Vulnerable consumers may not be aware of their increased risk for foodborne illness. They may be disproportionately impacted by low health literacy and have limited access or exposure to food safety educational material targeted to their unique medical issues.  Most food safety educational programs are developed for the general population and do not address at-risk consumers’ specific needs. This symposium will provide the attendees with an international perspective on food safety education for vulnerable populations; including highlighting population specific knowledge gaps and available targeted materials. The symposium is designed to facilitate a dialogue informed by an examination of a heterogeneous group of vulnerable populations from diverse international settings.

First, the findings of a UK project will describe the design, development and evaluation of a consumer orientated food safety intervention for chemotherapy patients and their family caregivers. The acceptability and effectiveness of the intervention were determined with food safety knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of risk, control and responsibility increasing significantly post-intervention. The second presentation will compare three educational approaches that target consumers with diabetes. The findings will include that positive deviance was more effective in knowledge gained and behavior reported than interventions with conventional reading. An epidemiologist in the third presentation will examine food safety knowledge and behavior of persons living with HIV in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and China. Available food safety educational materials designed for persons living with AIDS will be reviewed.  The final presentation will examine the unique challenges that educators working with deaf teenagers face, including the need to develop a culturally sensitive education program. This presentation will evaluate deaf teenagers food safety knowledge, attitudes and explore efficient educational approaches to meet their needs.

The session will focus on translating research findings into action and developing efficient, targeted educational programs to address each ‘at-risk’ group’s unique needs.

Presentations