Celebrating National Food Safety Education Month

Food safety is one of the fundamental cornerstones of our industry. As a contributing factor to food security, human health, economic prosperity, market access, and sustainable development, maintaining a keen focus on preventing, detecting, and managing foodborne risks is an industry imperative.

The onslaught of COVID-19 has heightened consumers’ concerns about food safety. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have worked to reassure consumers that food and food packaging are not a likely source or method of transmitting the coronavirus, the public’s concern about food preparation and handling remains. 

These concerns make this September’s celebration of National Food Safety Education Month even more timely and relevant. National Food Safety Education Month provides an annual opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of food safety. It is also the perfect time to remind people of the simple steps they can take to ensure the food on their table is safe to consume.

IFT has assembled the following information and resources to help you increase your understanding of food safety and share the basic principles with those around you. 

Blog

• Your Food Safety Questions Answered
• From Farm to Fork: A Tech-Enabled Food System
• Innovation and Collaboration: The Future of Agriculture, Food Safety, and Nutrition
• A Historical Look at Food Safety
• Nine Tips to Keep Food Safe This Fall
• 10 Common Culprits of Foodborne Illnesses
• GDST 1.0: Monumental Step Forward for Seafood Traceability

Food Technology Magazine

• Smarter Food Safety Will Be Tech-Enabled, People-Led
• Environmental Testing Goes Viral
• Food Safety Through the Prism of COVID-19
• Mycotoxins and Their Health Impacts
• COVID-19, Wet Markets, and Food Safety
• FDA Debuts New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint
• GS1 US And Partners Complete Phase One of a Food Traceability Proof-Of-Concept
• New Rapid Tests for Botulinum Toxin
• Verifying Supply Chain Data: Why It Matters
• Food Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Foodborne Illness Can Induce Autoimmune Illnesses
• Food Authentication: Better Safety, More Powerful Technology

Forbes

• FDA’s New Proposed Rule: What Does It Mean For Traceability And The Industry?
• The Virtual Inspector: Remote Auditing For Food Safety Verification
• Blueprints to the Future of Food: The New Era of Smarter Food Safety
• Cyclospora And Its Rise In Recalls In The Food Industry

Podcast

• Episode 23: Food Safety Experts on Recalls, COVID-19, Traceability, and More
• Episode 18: Food Manufacturing in the time of COVID-19

Additional Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• FoodSafety.gov
• Partnership for Food Safety Education
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Four steps to safer food at home, at school, at work and at play

Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing more helpful information, tips, research, and resources here on this page, as well as on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Watch our Food Safety and Defense page to see what's new and share what you learn with family and friends using the hashtags #NFSEM, #NationalFoodSafetyMonth, and #foodsafety.