Colorado State University Extension
SafeFood Rapid Response Network
Go to Table of Contents for this issue
SUCCESS STORY: FOOD SAFETY TRAININGS FOR FOOD BANK MEMBER AGENCIES
Edited by: Stephanie Wallner, M.S., Mary Schroeder, M.S., R.D, Pat Kendall, Ph.D., R.D., Colorado State - Winter 2007
Employee food handler training has extended well beyond the realm of retail food establishments. Food safety is rapidly becoming an integral part of programs that provide food to the hungry. Extension agents can be an excellent community resource to collaborate in this effort. In this issue, we would like to spotlight Jane Frobose, Colorado State University Denver County Extension agent, who has been providing ongoing safe food handler trainings with Metro Denver food bank member agencies for 2 years now.
Colorado Hunger
Food banks and food distribution agencies, pantries and sites play a critical role in addressing the food security concerns of people and communities in need. In Colorado alone, 11% of the population lives in poverty - which amounts to nearly 500,000 individuals. In addition, Colorado ranks 5th among all states for rising food insecurity rates, with a 31% increase in food insecure households from 1999 to 2004. Food security and hunger concerns are clearly a problem in Colorado and across the country.
Food Bank of The Rockies works to address these issues. As part of America's Second Harvest, the largest charitable hunger-relief organization in the United States, Food Bank of the Rockies is one of the 200 member food banks and other food assistance organizations nationwide, serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico. This network distributes close to 2 billion pounds of donated food to those in need each year. In 2006, America's Second Harvest provided food for 25 million low-income people in the U.S.
In Colorado, the Food Bank of The Rockies supports food assistance each day to needy children, seniors and families to meet basic needs through programs including Fighting Hunger Feeding Hope, Denver's Table and Kids Café. Food Bank of the Rockies is the central distribution site serving 919 hunger-relief programs in metropolitan Denver, northern Colorado and Wyoming. These programs are the "frontline between health and happiness versus hunger and despair." Last year, the Food Bank distributed 20.5 million pounds of food in Colorado - enough to provide 43,000 meals every day.
Agency Trainings
Colorado Food Bank of The Rockies is required to maintain food safety credentialing for its volunteers, employees and agencies. To help meet this certification need, Jane Frobose took the lead in adapting an existing Food Safety Works safe food handler training program. She has now reached over 300 individuals to date facilitating the new Food Safety Works for Food Bank Member Agencies on a monthly basis. In addition to teaching safe preparation, holding and serving of food, (needed by workers in soup kitchens, etc.), the 3-hour interactive training also addresses safe storage and shelf life issues specific to those working in food pantries and distribution sites.
On average, the program has achieved a 78% increase in participant knowledge of foodborne illness risk factors, hand washing procedures, cross-contamination, safe food temperatures, sanitizing procedures, and product storage. In addition, the Food Safety Works program has helped meet the Healthy People 2010 goal to improve food handler behaviors and practices that relate to food safety.
Interest is growing to offer Food Safety Works for Food Bank Member Agencies in other communities. Through collaborative efforts such as those Jane Frobose has established in the Metro-Denver area, similar networking can help meet the food safety needs of agencies and groups that serve the food insecure throughout Colorado and elsewhere.
