Food Safety for Faith-Based
Organizations
A joint project of MDH and University of
Minnesota Extension, in conjunction with
members of the Food Safety Partnership
Workgroup members
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Karen Everstine, MDH
Deborah Durkin, MDH
Lou Ann Jopp, U of M Extension
Angie Wheeler, Washington County
Lars Johnson, Private contractor
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Background
• Multiple large outbreaks in recent years
associated with church events
• Church events across the state are
generally not licensed
• U of M Extension has years of experience
teaching food safety courses
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Project description
• Goals: Provide access to food safety courses
and encourage attendance. Increase
consultation with local EH department
• Project components:
– Mailing
– “Cooking Safely for a Crowd” Workshop
– Food safety resources and tools
• Pilot areas: Rochester, Washington County,
St. Cloud
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Workshop details
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Designed to be 2-3 hour workshop
Face-to-face
Minimum # of participants is 15
Cost: $15/participant
- group rate for 21 + participants
• Organization responsibilities:
- Free-of-charge meeting space
- Community advertising
- Refreshments (if desired)
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Workshop details
• Taught by U of M Extension educators
• Covers basic food safety
– Foodborne Illnesses
– Safe planning & preparation of large
quantities of food
– Personal Hygiene (i.e. Handwashing)
– Cross-contamination
– Time/temperature
– Safe food storage
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Workshop details
Participants receive:
- Folder of food safety information
and resources (including FSIS
“Cooking for Groups” booklet)
- Nail brush
- Certificate of attendance
Organization receives:
- Food Safety Wheel
- White copy of various handouts
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Problems encountered during
pilot project:
• Difficult to find the correct contact person
• Volunteer turnover (i.e., no one person
takes responsibility for food prep)
• Not enough perception of a problem
among the community
• Mailing was not sent out with enough lead
time
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Lessons learned from the
pilot project:
• Organizations need more lead time
• Utilize other means of communication
(email, phone calls, radio, CHS mailbag, etc.)
• Communicate through a contact person
when possible (parish nurses, funeral
directors, etc.)
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Questions for FSP:
• How do we convince faith-based
communities that there is a need for
food safety education?
• How do we reach the correct people
within the organizations?
• What are the best means of
communication? (e-mail, phone, etc.)
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Next Steps
• Focus groups
• Investigating dates for pre-arranged
gatherings/meetings for Faith-Based
Organizations (e.g., synod meetings)
• Continue to facilitate requested
workshops
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