By Faith Peppers
University of
Georgia

To help celebrate National Food Safety Education Month, the
University of Georgia Extension Service and Publix supermarkets
are teaming up on three Saturdays in September to help shoppers
serve safer food.

“Many cases of foodborne illness are caused by improper
handling of food between the grocery store and the table,” said
Judy Harrison, a UGA Extension Service food safety expert.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate 76
million U.S. cases of foodborne illness each year. Of those,
325,000 are hospitalized, and 5,000 die.

The food safety festivals will be at featured Atlanta-area
Publix stores Sept. 11, 18 and 25. The program, provided by UGA
Extension Service food safety specialists, aims to help prevent
foodborne illness by teaching safe handling practices.

The activities will include taste testing, quick-and-easy
recipe ideas, games and prizes for adults and kids. Local 4-
H’ers will offer food-safety demonstrations and advice on safe
snacks and lunches.

The Georgia 5 A Day Coalition will be promoting healthy eating.
This is part of a national (www.5aday.com) nutrition program to
get more people to eat five or more servings of fruits and
vegetables each day. September is “National 5 A Day Month.”

Only one out of five children eats the recommended five
servings of fruits and vegetables a day, experts say. Fruits
and vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and
other substances, they say, that are important for good
health.

The events start at 10 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m., with a break
from noon to 1:30 p.m., on these dates at these Publix
stores: