WASHINGTON - A unique public-private partnership consisting of industry, government and consumer groups today called on all Americans to ``Fight BAC!''(TM) and reduce foodborne illness by confronting the invisible enemy of foodborne bacteria.
At a Washington kickoff ceremony, two Cabinet Secretaries -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala -- joined with the other members of the Partnership for Food Safety Education to unveil the new character ``BAC'' which will be the cornerstone of one of the most far-reaching and ambitious public education campaigns ever focused on safe food handling.
``Just as the public links 'Smokey Bear' with preventing forest fires, the goal of the 'Fight BAC!' campaign is to educate consumers on the problem of foodborne illness and motivate them to take basic sanitation and food handling steps that will greatly reduce their risk of foodborne illness,'' said Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.
The Partnership for Food Safety Education is launching the ``Fight BAC!'' campaign in conjunction with President Clinton's Food Safety Initiative, which is designed to assure the safety of food from the farm to the table. The initiative also includes measures to improve and modernize food inspection and manufacturing procedures; increase research into foodborne pathogens; create a national Early Warning System to detect and respond to foodborne outbreaks; and strengthen coordination among federal, state and local food safety agencies.
``Although the U.S. has one of the safest food supplies in the world. preventing foodborne illness remains a major public health challenge,'' said Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Donna E. Shalala. ``Even as industry and government step up their food safety activities, consumers need to understand that they are the last line of defense in assuring the safety of the foods they eat.''
Television Public Service Announcement
The new ``Fight BAC!'' campaign includes a colorful, 30-second television public service announcement (PSA) featuring a frustrated ``BAC'' trying unsuccessfully to spread contamination throughout the kitchen. ``The 'BAC' character puts a face on foodborne bacteria, which we believe will help Americans remember that they have the power to control bacteria in their home kitchens,'' Shalala commented. The television spot highlights four basic safe food handling steps and tells viewers ``if you want to stay healthy, you've gotta 'Fight BAC.''' The new PSA is being distributed nationally to television networks and stations in key markets.
Four Key Principles
Underlying the campaign are four key principles for preparing food safely and keeping it that way. The principles are: 1) wash hands and surfaces often; 2) prevent cross-contamination; 3) cook foods to proper temperatures; and 4) refrigerate promptly. Although simple steps, these four principles address the critical points in everyday food handling where improper practices can lead to foodborne illness.
An Educational Graphic for Food Safety
With these food safety principles as the focus, another important new campaign element is the food safety graphic which brings the four steps to life. ``We have learned through extensive nutrition programs that consumers understand best when information is presented in a simple, graphically interesting manner,'' said Glickman. ``We hope this new food safety symbol will become as familiar and meaningful to Americans as the Food Guide Pyramid.'' The symbol was extensively tested with consumers and is designed for use in a wide variety of materials, from posters to point-of-purchase materials to refrigerator magnets.
The ``Fight BAC!'' Web Site
The campaign also features a new Web site -- www.fightbac.org -- where consumers, health professionals, educators and the media can learn the latest news about preventing foodborne illness. Grassroots consumer educators will appreciate the Web site's special links allowing them to access a variety of consumer-friendly food safety information.
``BAC Fighters'' Register Support for Campaign
More than 50 national, state and local organizations from the public health, government, consumer and industry sectors have agreed to support the ``Fight BAC!'' campaign and disseminate educational materials. These ``BAC Fighters'' will maximize the campaign's national outreach and provide important links into thousands of communities nationwide.
The Partnership for Food Safety Education
Formed in 1996 and officially launched in May 1997, the Partnership for Food Safety Education was created as the result of widespread scientific consensus that foodborne illness is a major public health problem. Although the exact incidence of foodborne illness in the U.S. is not precisely known, the nonprofit Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) estimates that between 6.5 and 33 million cases occur each year. The National Center for Health Statistics estimate that 9,100 deaths per year are due to foodborne illness.
The Partnership for Food Safety Education is currently funded by nine industry organizations: The American Egg Board, American Meat Institute, Food Marketing Institute, Industry Council on Food Safety/National Restaurant Association. National Broiler Council, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Produce Marketing Association, The Soap and Detergent Association and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association. The Grocery Manufacturers of America has also contributed to the effort.
At the same time, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its agencies -- the Food Safely and Inspection Service, and the Cooperative State, Research, Education and Extension Service -- together with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies -- the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- have committed their technical expertise and in-kind resources in implementing the campaign. Also joining the Partnership is the Association of Food and Drug officials and serving as advisors are the Consumer Federation of America, Public Voice for Food and Health Policy and Carol Tucker Foreman, a food safety advocate and former Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.
Press Here for Info on Setting Your Own Web Site
Meat Industry Insights News Service
P.O. Box 553
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
Web Site: http://www.spcnetwork.com/mii