Food Safety & Security at Kansas State University

Investigators:

Support:

Objectives:

To identify variables that are determinants of safe food-handling practices.

To develop and deliver safe food-handling messages to mature adults.

To experimentally test the extension education program designed for this program in relation to existing messages aimed at mature adults.

To develop, implement, and evaluate instructional units into the curriculum of post secondary students in fields serving mature adults.

Background & Approach:

Individuals 65 and older are at higher risk for contracting foodborne illness and are more likely to suffer chronic consequences and death due to infection than the general population. This group is also often more entrenched in behaviors than younger audiences.

During this project, telephone surveys have been used to assess mature adults' adoption or rejection of safe food-handling practices. Addionally, eight focus groups were held to explore why they choose some practices and not others, clarify concerns and lay theories, as well as to critique and comment on USDA food safety educational materials directed to senior citizens. Results from surveys and focus groups were analyzed to inform an experimental field study. The field study examined how risk perceptions and perceptions of self facilitate adoption of recommended behaviors. The final component of the project will be the development, implementation, and distribution of a formal education component aimed at post-secondary students in fields serving mature adults.

Implications:

Early results suggest mature adults have a general knowledge of safe food-handling practices but need education into specific aspects of food handling, such as the use of meat thermometers. Data collected so far also indicate a need for further research into efficient and effective methods, activities, and timelines for communicating with mature adults. This project will provide a better understanding of the barriers to safe food handling behaviors among people 65-years-old and older.

Related Publications:

Boone, K., Penner, K., Gordon, J.C., Remig, K., Harvey, L. & Clark, T. (under review). Common themes of safe food-handling behavior among mature adults. Food Protection Trends.

Gordon, J.C., Raacke, J., Penner, K., Boone, K., Friel, B., & Remig, V. (2004). Risk perception, attitude, knowledge and safe food handling behavior among those 65 years and older. Proceedings of the Association for International Agricultural Extension Education, Ireland, 20, 724-734.

Gordon, J.C. (2003). Risk communication and foodborne illness: Message sponsorship and attempts to stimulate perceptions of risk. Risk Analysis, 23(6):1287-1296.

Gordon, J.C. (2002). Beyond knowledge: Guidelines for effective health promotion messages. Journal of Extension, 40(6). Available at http://www.joe.org/joe/2002december/
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