Food Safety - From Farm to Fork

This unit provides fifth through seventh graders a better understanding of food safety through real-life examples and enjoyable activities. They learn that everyone has a responsibility in minimizing foodborne illnesses -- farmers, transporters, restaurants, grocery stores... and the consumer! Through reading, games, puzzles, math problems and science investigations, participants identify the roles each one of us plays to ensure the food we enjoy is safe to eat.

This unit was developed by educators under the direction of California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom and sponsored by the Alliance for Food and Farming and the California Beef Council.

Download

Entirety (PDF, 1.7 MB)
Spanish excerpt: Juega Sobre Seguro (PDF, 797 KB)
Spanish excerpt: Operativo La Cocina Imposible (PDF, 357 KB)

Additional Resources

Fight BAC Brochure
A brochure for kids that outlines four simple steps to food safety when handling beef. Easy wording and simple pictures outline the four steps: clean, separate, cook and chill. For students in grades K-8.

California Beef Council
4640 Northgate Boulevard, Suite 115
Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: (916) 925-2333
E-mail: askus@calbeef.org
Web site: www.calbeef.org

Food Safety Music
Carl Winter, Ph.D., has combined his passion for music with his expertise in food toxicology to teach children and adults about food safety. Dr. Winter's latest CD Still Stayin' Alive features numerous songs written to previous musical hits. Titles include "Eat It!," "Beware La Vaca Loca," and "You Better Wash Your Hands." Information regarding Dr. Winter's food safety music and CD are available on the Web site.

Carl Winter, Ph.D.
Food Science and Technology Department
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616-8598
Phone: (530) 752-5448
E-mail: ckwinter@ucdavis.edu
Web site: foodsafe.ucdavis.edu

Science and Our Food Supply—Investigating Food Safety From Farm to Table
The interactive video, comprehensive reference guide, career guide and varied activities included in this educational kit can be incorporated into all academic disciplines. Separate guides for middle school and high school science teachers.

National Science Teacher's Association
1840 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (703) 243-7100
Web site: www3.nsta.org/fdacurriculum

Your Game Plan for Food Safety: A Fight BAC!® Food Safety Education Program
This comprehensive program includes video, posters, experiments, activities, home survey, take-home BAC-catchers, and a teacher's activity and experiment guide. For grades K-12.

Partnership for Food Safety Education
2345 Crystal Drive, Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22202
Phone: (202) 220-0651
Web site: www.fightbac.org

Books

Capeci, Anne, Bruce Degen, John Spears and Joanna Cole. The Giant Germ. Scholastic, 2001. ISBN 978-0-439-20420-0.

Cobb, Vicki. Dirt & Grime, Like You've Never Seen. Scholastic 1998. ISBN 978-0-590-92666-9.

DeGregori, Thomas. Bountiful Harvest. Technology, Food Safety, and the Environment. CATO Institute, 2002. ISBN 978-1-930865-31-0.

Latta, Sara. Food Poisoning and Foodborne Diseases. Enslow Publishers, Inc., 1999. ISBN 978-0-7660-1183-0.

Latta, Sara. The Good, the Bad, the Slimy: The Secret Life of Microbes. Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2006. ISBN 978-0-7660-1294-3.

Leavitt, Judith Walzer. Typhoid Mary. Beacon Press, 1997. ISBN 978-0-8070-2103-3.

Satin, Morton. Food Alert: The Ultimate Sourcebook for Food Safety. Checkmark Books, 1999. ISBN 978-0-8160-3935-7.

Woods, Michael and Mary B. Woods. Ancient Agriculture. Runestone Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-8225-2995-8.

Web sites

For Teachers

Food Safety Information Center
riley.nal.usda.gov

Food Safety Information and Inspection Service
www.fsis.usda.gov

Alliance for Food and Farming
www.foodandfarming.info

Center for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov

Federal Food Safety Information
www.foodsafety.gov

For Students

USDA Food Safety Mobile Game
www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/foodsafetymobile

Food Detectives Fight BAC!®
www.fooddetectives.com

The Scrub Club
www.scrubclub.org

For Consumers of All Ages

The Center for Food Integrity
www.bestfoodfacts.org

MicrobeWold
www.microbeworld.org