Populations at Risk for Foodborne Illness

Some consumers are more susceptible to foodborne illness and may experience more severe symptoms. This group of consumers includes young children, older adults, pregnant women, and persons with illnesses that affect the immune system. This page has information on reducing foodborne illness in at-risk populations and on microorganisms that are more likely to affect at-risk groups.

Young Children

• "Don't Give Kids a Tummy Ache" Spanish and English CD is directed towards parents and other caregivers of young children. The curriculum is on a CD and includes English and Spanish lesson plans, pre/post quizzes, handouts, and 19 full color visuals. The visuals can be used as a PowerPoint presentation or printed out to be used as a flipchart or as overhead transparencies.

The program is a fun & interactive way to teach food safety to those who care for young children. This program was adapted from the Penn State curriculum "Safe Foods--It's Up to You" and has been piloted tested for effectiveness.

The cost of the CD is $20. Order from:
University of California
ANR Communication Services
6701 San Pablo Ave.
Oakland, CA 94608-1239
1-800-994-8849
Web: anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu

• Children and Foodborne Illness (PDF115 KB)
• "Safe Food and You" For parents and pre-schoolers. See description below under Women.
• Information on food safety for children and teenagers (FDA)
  

Individuals with Immune Deficiencies

• Food Safey for People with Cancer (USDA, PDF 1419 KB) (Spanish PDF 169 KB)
• Food Safety for Persons with Chronic Illness (Foodsafety.gov)
• Food Safety for People with Diabetes (USDA, PDF 1436 KB) (Spanish PDF 203 KB)
• Food Safety for People with HIV/AIDS (USDA, PDF 1420 KB) (Spanish PDF 184 KB)
• Food Safety for Transplant Recipients (USDA, PDF 1437 KB) (Spanish PDF 163 KB)

Older Adults

• Food Safety for Older Adults (USDA PDF 1418 KB) (Spanish PDF 197 KB)
• Older Adults and Food Safety (USDA) (In Spanish)
• Food Safety for Older Adults (FDA)
• To Your Health!  Food Safety for Seniors (FDA, PDF English 852 KB)  (Spanish PDF 669 KB)

Pregnant Women

• Information on food safety for women, including pregnant women (From:  Foodsafety.gov)
  
• Information about methyl mercury in fish (FDA)
• Information in Spanish on listeriosis and pregnancy (USDA)
• Toxoplasmosis: An Important Message for Cat Owners (CDC, PDF 1,593 KB)
• "Safe Food and You" is a curriculum produced by Purdue University, Iowa State University, and their respective EFNEP, FSNEP, and Cooperative Extension Programs. The curriculum for pregnant women includes a video and a lesson plan. For parents and pre-schoolers there is a lesson plan for individual or group instruction as well as a CD containing songs about food safety and handwashing. The portion of the curriculum for pre-schoolers includes a lesson plan, coloring/activity pages and the CD on handwashing and food safety.

Ordering Information:  (summarized below) or Order online here

The cost of the program is $45.  Order item CFS-720.
Spanish Version (handouts only):
CFS-270S - Cost $5
Order by mail, telephone, fax, or e-mail (or online, above):
Ag Comm -MDC
Purdue University
1187 Service Building
West Lafayette IN 47907-1187
Phone: (765)494-6794 or 1-888-EXT-INFO
Fax: (765) 496-1540
E-mail: Media.Order@ces.purdue.edu

References

• Smith, J.L. 1997. Long-term consequences of foodborne toxoplasmosis: Effects on the unborn, the immunocompromised, the elderly, and the immunocompetent. J. Food Prot. 60:1595-1611.
• Smith, J.L. 1998. Foodborne illness in the elderly. J. Food Prot. 61:1229-1239.
• Smith, J.L. 1999. Foodborne infections during pregnancy. J. Food Prot. 62:818-829.
• Smith, J.L. and P.M. Fratamico. 2000. Long term consequences of foodborne disease. In B.M. Lund, T.C. Baird-Parker, G.W. Gould (eds.) The microbiological safety and quality of food, pp. 1545-1562.