Food Safety Websites for Children
As Food Outbreaks Grow, Kids Can Learn to Keep Safe in Fun Way
Mar 31, 2009
Children are one of the most vulnerable groups to food borne illnesses, which can cause mild to severe problems, or even death. Children can enjoy learning about ways to keep safe with the help of free food safety websites, which provide fun characters, games, quizzes and printables.
Food Borne Illnesses are Common
Many people are aware of the newly reported Salmonella contamination of pistachios, and the ongoing problem with peanut contamination. But there are many other bacteria in addition to Salmonella that cause food-borne illnesses, including E. coli, Campylobacter and Listeria. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, there are over 76 million cases of food borne illnesses each year. Children are particularly vulnerable to food-borne illnesses, as their immune systems are underdeveloped.
Children can reduce their risks by getting information about safety habits, and will enjoy learning through online websites.
Scrub Club Website Teaches Safety
The entertaining Scrub Club food safety website is created by NSF International and sponsored by GoJo Industries, the makers of Purell hand sanitizer and other cleaning products. But the site is totally non-commercial, and has a variety of colorful, fun games, characters and even background audio of a bubbling sound. Various bacteria are transformed into characters, such as "Sal Monella" (Salmonella) and "Big E" (which refers to the common bacterial food contaminant E. Coli.
Among other items, there is a "webisode," a matching game, a digital paper doll to dress and a Scrub Club theme song. Children can even download an official Scrub Club membership card. The site is designed for parents and their children ages 3-8 years old; older children can easily play on the site with no help.
FDA Website for Child Food Safety
The U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration , with help from the Chef and Child Foundation, offers a green and mean character known as "Bac," (bacteria.) According to the website, Bac is "is bad and could make you sick. Follow the safe food handling rules and stay healthy."
The site also offers a series of food safety printables, which include games and coloring pages. In addition, there is a downloadable certificate of achievement, which can be given to the child after he or she completes all the pages.
Website Offers Food Safety Facts for Older Kids
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has designed a kids' website on food safety, also with different games. One of its strongest offerings, however, is a colorful condensed version of the FDA's Bad Bug Book, a reference that is geared for adults.
This children's condensed version offers large, colorful graphics and explains various forms of food-borne bacteria, such as Campylobacter, Shigella and Listeria. This information, which includes pronunciation guides, is most likely to be interesting to the child who is in upper elementary school or beyond and/or enjoys science.
There are an increasing number of problems with food-borne related illnesses, and children are particularly vulnerable to getting sick. Children can reduce their risks of food-borne illnesses and have fun, too, by exploring safe, free websites that offer information, games and printables.
Sources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
NSF International
For More Advanced Reading:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Bad Bug Book, available, free, on the administration's website
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