USDA Food Safety Mobile Program

FSIS launched the new USDA Food Safety Mobile Program in 2010, as part of its ongoing consumer education campaign to support local food safety education efforts and reach consumers where they live. The USDA Food Safety Mobile is traveling throughout the United States visiting local community events to educate consumers about food safety. The program offers consumers an in-depth, hands-on approach on food safety education to improve consumer’s awareness, knowledge and behavior. Its main purpose is to provide experiential learning opportunities around the four key messages of the Be Food Safe Campaign: Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.

It offers consumers an opportunity to view common types of food-borne bacteria through high powered microscopes and participate in hand-washing experiments using glow-in-the-dark materials. It also teaches them how to prepare microwaveable foods and snacks safely and calibrate different types of food thermometers. Children as well as adults will learn how to handle and prepare food safely, as well as how bacteria in food may cause illness and how to avoid it.The USDA Food Safety Mobile appears at events such as: state and local county fairs, schools, conventions, and at USDA/FSIS events. The vehicle is stocked with FSIS publications, a grill, food thermometers, various visuals and related hardware used to demonstrate food safety practices and principles.

TIMG transports and maintains the USDA Food Safety Mobile for extensive travel throughout the continental United States and activates each of the events nationwide. The TIMG staff in each of the events nationally supports the USDA staff in setting up, checking that all the electronic equipment is operable, and making sure that they have all the necessary supplies. The approved two TIMG staff members are with the vehicle at all times to assist the USDA, Department of Health and Human Services staff and volunteers.