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comments were given by 17%. Thirtyeight percent of the participants gave a statement about food storage. From the responses to the knowledge question asked of the participants, it appears that 72% knew how long to store leftovers properly (information given in one of the educational handouts), although from the practice question (Table 4) some of the participants are not putting this information into practice. From these data, it appears that the educational handouts were an effective tool for educating and reinforcing food safety knowledge. Educational material is available: “To Your Health! Food Safety for Seniors” (21) and “Food Safety for Older Adults” (20) but this information may be too extensive or complex for some MOW recipients. In our study, seven MOW participants (15%) stated that they could not remember receiving the educational handouts, and two MOW participants stated that they could not read very well. Moran (13) reported that dementia and less severe cognitive impairments among MOW recipients complicate the reliability of dietary intake data. It is possible that these conditions may have been a factor in the lack of responses or “don’t know” responses from our MOW participants. Our study demonstrated that a food safety label on home-delivered meals was needed to remind MOW participants how to store uneaten foods safely. Educational handouts that are easy to read are needed occasionally as a reminder of safe food handling practices. 'REFERENCES 1. Albrecht, J. A., and C. Larvick. 2007. Refrigerator practices of participants in the meals on wheels program. Food Prot. Trends. 27:672– 677. 2. Almanza, B. A., Y. Namkung, J. A. Ismail, and D. C. Nelson. 2007. Clients’ safe food-handling knowledge and risk behavior in a homedelivered meal program. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 107:816–821. 3. Asp, E., and M. Darling. 1988. Home-delivered meals: food quality, nutrient content, and characteristics of recipients. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 88:55–59. 4. Boone, K., K. Penner, J. C. Gordon, V. Remig, L. Harvey, and T. Clark. 2005. Common themes of safe food-handling behavior among mature adults. Food Prot. Trends. 35:706–711. 5. Brandt, M. B., C. J. Spease, G. June, and A. M. Brown. 2003. Prevalence of food safety, quality, and other consumer statements on labels of processed, packaged foods. Food Prot.Trends. 23:870–881. 6. Buzby, J. C. 2002. Older adults at risk of complications from microbial foodborne illness. Food Rev. 25:30–35. 7. Coulston, A. M., L. Craig, and A.C. Voss. 1996. Meals-on-wheels applicants are a population at risk for poor nutritional status. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 96:570–573. 8. Fey-Yensan, N., C. English, S. Ash, C. Wallace, and C. Museler. 2001. Food safety risk identified in a population of elderly home-delivered meal participants. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 101:1055–1057. 9. Gettings, M. A., and N. E. Kiernan. 2001. Practices and perceptions of food safety among seniors who prepare meals at home. J. Nutr. Ed. 33:148–154. 10. Johnson, A. E., A. J. Donkin, K. Morgan, J. M. Lilley, R. J. Neale, R. M. Page, and R. Silburn. 1998. Food safety knowledge and practice among elderly people living 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank Pamela Pohlmann, Extension intern, and Cindy Brison and Carol Larvick, Extension Educators, for their assistance in data collection, and David W. Giraud for data analysis. This manuscript is a contribution of the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research Division, supported in part by funds provided through the Hatch Act. Additional support was provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. 20. 21. at home. J. Epidemiol. Community Health. 52:745–748. Lando, A.M., and S.B. Fein. 2007. Consumer decisions on storage of packaged foods. Food Prot.Trends. 27:307–313. Mathieu, J. 2002. Food safety and home delivery. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 102:1744–1746. Moran, M. B. 2004. Challenges in the meals on wheels program. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 104:1219–1221. Roe, B., M. F. Teisl, A. S. Levy, K. Boyle , M. L. Me sso nnier, T. L. Riggs, M. J. Herrmann, and R. M. Newman. 2001. Consumers’ assessment of the food safety problem for meals prepared at home and reactions to food safety labeling. J. Food Prod. Market. 6:9–26. Roseman, M. G. 2007. Food safety perceptions and behaviors of participants in congregate-meal and home-delivered-meal programs. J. Environ. Health 70:13–21. Roseman, M. G., and K. Hayek. 2005. Determining the success of food safety education to elderly participating in congregate and home-delivered meal programs. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 105:A–13. SAS Institute, Inc. 2003. SAS On-line Doc,Version 8. Cary, N.C. US Department of Agriculture and Partnership for Food Safety Education. Available at: http://www.fightbac.gov and http://www.foodsafety. gov. Accessed 1 February, 2007. US Department of Agriculture. 2008. Be food safe. Available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/BeFoodSafe/About_BFS/indes.asp.Accessed 30 May, 2008. US Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service. 2006. Food safety for older adults. Available at: http://www.fsis.usda. gov/PDF/Food_Safety_for_Older_Adults.pdf. Accessed 31 August, 2009. US Food and Drug Administration. 2000. To your health! Food safety for seniors. Available at: http:// www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/sr2.html. Accessed 5 February, 2007. 856 FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS | DECEMBER 2009

http://fightbac.ORG http://www.foodsafety.gov http://fightbac.ORG http://www.foodsafety.gov http://www.fsis.usda.gov/befoodsafe/about_bfs/indes.asp http://www.fsis.usda.gov/befoodsafe/about_bfs/indes.asp http://www.fsis.usda.gov/pdf/food_safety_for_older_adults.pdf http://www.fsis.usda.gov/pdf/food_safety_for_older_adults.pdf http://www.fsis.usda.gov/pdf/food_safety_for_older_adults.pdf http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/sr2.html http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/sr2.html

Food Protection Trends - December 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - December 2009