By Jessica Badour, Food Safety Division, Georgia Department of Agriculture
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) protects consumers, promotes agriculture locally and globally, and assists Georgia agriculture customers using education, technology and a professional workforce. In line with our mission, the GDA’s Food Safety Division is excited to support the upcoming Consumer Food Safety Education Conference (CFSEC) happening March 6-8, 2019, in Orlando, Fla.
The conference is an effective and engaging forum that brings together both public and private sector professionals who are working together to improve, expand and enhance consumer food safety education opportunities. As a state agriculture official with a job focused in consumer outreach, I am passionate about helping Georgians (and all Americans) understand simple actions that help reduce the risk of foodborne pathogens, which can be dangerous to our personal heath and that of our families, friends and pets.
For anyone working at the local, state, or federal level who is charged with consumer food safety education, the CFSEC is a place where, in just two days, you gain actionable and effective ideas to help increase consumer engagement. The GDA is pleased to represent the state along with the University of Georgia Extension’s involvement at the 2019 conference. I will present on “State Food Safety Agency’s Use of Social Media” through both oral and poster presentation, which will discuss current and best practices for state food safety regulatory agencies in using social media to engage citizens.
The unique combination of government, industry, academia and non-profit attendees aligns with our program’s initiatives toward a national integrated food safety system. The mix of participants and networking opportunities makes this event an ideal place to develop creative ideas and promising collaborations, focusing on the consumer’s role in the food safety chain of prevention.
In addition to my breakout presentation, here are a few examples of other topics attendees will learn about:
- Improving Healthy Hand Hygiene Behaviors at Fairs: Food Safety Education That Works
- Modifying Approaches to Increase Consumer Engagement
- Making Real Change by Learning from Game Developers: The Transformational Design Model
I appreciate the opportunity to share information with this audience, learn from the other presenters, and network with some 400+ attendees who share a similar passion for increasing consumer food safety education from the farm to the fork.
For more information about the conference, please visit cfsec2019.fightbac.org. Early bird registration rates are currently accessible until Jan. 25, along with a room block at the Swan & Dolphin Resort (1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, FL).
About Jessica Badour
From veteran communications specialist to preeminent food safety professional, Jessica Badour has built a successful and diversified career developing compelling means of sharing information while engaging the public on essential issues. She is currently the Recall Coordinator & Outreach Specialist at the Georgia Department of Agriculture, where she focuses on implementing recall communications while facilitating educational and promotional outreach opportunities for the Department’s Food Safety Division. Follow & engage with her on both Twitter and Instagram @GDAFoodSafety.
About the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA)
GDA is the voice of the state’s agriculture community. The department’s mission is to provide excellence in services and regulatory functions, to protect and promote agriculture and consumer interests, and to ensure an abundance of safe food and fiber for Georgia, America, and the world by using state-of-the-art technology and a professional workforce. For more information, visit www.agr.georgia.gov.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
From Consumers to Chefs: Food Safety Education Matters, March 6-8, 2019 at the Swan and Dolphin Resort is the 7th in a series of food safety education conferences sponsored by the non-profit Partnership for Food Safety Education. For more conference information and to register, please visit cfsec2019.fightbac.org.