Use of Minimal-text Posters to Improve the Microbial Status of Leafy Greens and Food Contact Surfaces in Foodservice Sites Serving Older Adults

An aging population, a trend toward eating away from home, and an increase in foodborne disease outbreaks associated with leafy greens have generated food safety concerns with regard to foodservice operations serving older adults. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Food protection trends 2016-03, Vol.36 (2), p.125-125
Main Authors: Roy, Amber L, Shaw, Angela M, Rajagopal, Lakshman, Strohbehn, Catherine H, Arendt, Susan W, Sauer, Kevin L
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Behavior
Disease control
Disease prevention
Employees
Escherichia coli
Food contamination & poisoning
Food safety
Food service
Intervention
Listeria monocytogenes
Meals
Medical laboratories
Mortality
Older people
Population
Prevention
Restaurants
Sanitation
Staphylococcus aureus
Studies
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Summary:An aging population, a trend toward eating away from home, and an increase in foodborne disease outbreaks associated with leafy greens have generated food safety concerns with regard to foodservice operations serving older adults. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a minimal-text food safety poster intervention in changing the microbial status of leafy greens and food contact surfaces at selected foodservice sites. A minimal-text poster intervention was placed in foodservice operations within Iowa and Kansas. Samples were collected before, 1 month after, and 3-4 months after the intervention (total samples per location per visit). Leafy green samples were taken at three stages of preparation. Samples were screened for Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli 0157 and Staphylococcus aureus and enumerated for aerobic plate counts (APC), coliforms, and fecal coliform (FC) counts. All samples were negative for pathogens tested; APC and coliform counts were not significantly different before and after intervention (P < 0.05). After intervention, FC counts in samples of leafy greens from hospitals and restaurants were significantly lower than before intervention (P < 0.0004). The reduction in FC after intervention suggests that minimal-text food safety poster messages may decrease the risk of foodborne disease in foodservice establishments.
ISSN:1541-9576