Native American Storytelling Teaches Food Safety in Oregon and Alaska

Storytelling has been both entertainment and instruction in Native American cultures throughout history. Native Americans in Oregon (Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs) and Alaska (Tanana Chiefs Conference) will learn safe food handling principles through storytelling. Stories emphasizing the importance of good sanitation, thorough cooking, and proper temperature control will be written in the Native American tradition for use in both schools and homes. A curriculum will be developed for Native American students in third and fourth grade. A family education kit will reinforce learning experiences. Project assistants will lead in-school activities and contact families. Radio spots will promote safe food handling in the Native American communities.The National Food Safety Database has become the U.S.'s most comprehensive on-line source of full-text information for the food service industry. The NFSD has great utility, evidenced by over 10,000 requests/day, over 145,000 distinct users, an international audience of 85 countries, and numerous examples of other WWW sites that link to the NFSD. The need for access to food safety information will markedly increase in the following years, especially with new food safety regulations, media attention, and advances in Internet technologies. We propose to enhance the ability of the Cooperative Extension Service to meet the demands of the food service industry by producing an "intelligent" menu structure, downloadable interactive software, full-length videos,online certification training, and multilingual needs.