Angela Fraser: Childcare Centers

Angela M. Fraser, Ph.D.
Associate Professor/Food Safety Specialist
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

Food-borne illness effects about 76 million Americans each year.  And that’s about 1 in every 4 people who get sick; and it seems that every week we hear of a new outbreak. 

Children are at a much greater risk for food-borne illness than are – than is the general population.  In fact, it’s believed that they are about 3 times at risk for food-borne illness.

And, why this is so important is that food-borne illness is nearly 100% preventable; and so all the monies that we’re spending on the outcome of food-borne illness does not have to happen.   Particularly, if we have very targeted interventions to prevent it.

We will conduct observations of 100 child care centers of food-handling  practices, hygienic practices, sanitation practices, and we will also collect microbiological samples of various surfaces, such as countertops and hands of childcare workers; and we’ll compare to see where the true risk zones are within a childcare facility.

The ultimate goal is to keep children in the Carolinas safe from food-borne illness; and we also want to make the childcare providers’ job easier and to help them to understand how they can keep those kids safe.

For more information, click here.

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