Learning
Center

Science Concepts and Inquiry with Food

This Web Seminar, sponsored by the FDA, took place on December 4, 2007, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Presenting was Sherri McGarry, Foodborne Outbreak Coordinator on the Emergency Coordination and Response Staff in the Office of Compliance, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, at the FDA. The presenter talked about outbreak investigations.

• See this Web Seminar's Archive
• PowerPoint Presentation (1.11 MB)
• Presentation - PDF version (604 KB)
• Add this Web Seminar Archive to your NSTA Learning Center Library

This web seminar was the second of two related to the FDA Symposium that took place at the NSTA Area Conference on Science Education in Denver, Colorado. The program focused on outbreak investigations. The most common cause of foodborne outbreaks are ill workers who do not follow proper personal hygiene procedures. FDA scientists fighting foodborne outbreaks follow investigative procedures analogous to solving a crime. The Web seminar was designed for educators of grades 5-8.

Twenty-eight (28) participants were present at the live Web Seminar in addition to the presenter and NSTA staff. Participating educators represented the states of California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. Seminar participants received a one year subscription to one of NSTA’s SciGuide for completing the evaluation form at the end of the program.

Here are some comments provided by the participants at the end of the Web Seminar:

• "I liked the clear presentation of the process and the emphasis on the
  difficulty of investigating outbreaks.”
• “Terrific presentation! The slides will be useful in the classroom. I learned
  how an investigation is conducted by the FDA into foodborne illnesses.”
• “I used to be employed in hospital food service, so some of this was a
  good refresher. Also, hearing more about what the investigators have to look
  for was interesting.”
• "I teach a low-level science class for seniors that need it to graduate. I do
  a food unit, and this was very helpful for discussions, especially since many
  of them have food-service related jobs.”

Thanks to the participants and the presenter for the learning opportunity, the interactions, and a job well done!

Websites

• U.S. FDA/Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
  http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OrganizationCharts/ucm135675.htm
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  http://www.fda.gov/

---

For more information contact webseminars@nsta.org

Underwritten in part by FDA