FDA Food Safety SurveysFDA Food Safety Surveys

Sara Fein, Ph.D. Consumer Science SpecialistSara Fein, Ph.D. Consumer Science Specialist

Office of Scientific Analysis and SupportOffice of Scientific Analysis and Support

Center for Food Safety and Applied NutritionCenter for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. Food and Drug Administration

Type of InformationType of Information

• Usual food handling behaviorsUsual food handling behaviors– Cross contaminationCross contamination– Washing fruits and vegetablesWashing fruits and vegetables– Cooking practices Cooking practices – Thermometer useThermometer use– Cooling practicesCooling practices– Storage times for selected foodsStorage times for selected foods

Type of InformationType of Information

• Eating risky foods in the past yearEating risky foods in the past year

– Undercooked or raw hamburgerUndercooked or raw hamburger– Raw hot dogsRaw hot dogs– Raw sproutsRaw sprouts– Raw and undercooked eggsRaw and undercooked eggs– Other raw foods from animalsOther raw foods from animals

Other Types of InformationOther Types of Information

• Immune compromised statusImmune compromised status

• Demographic characteristics:Demographic characteristics:– Age, gender, race,, education, income, Age, gender, race,, education, income,

household size, geographic regionhousehold size, geographic region

• Knowledge of food safety issuesKnowledge of food safety issues

• Perceived risk from foodborne illnessPerceived risk from foodborne illness

• Experience of foodborne illnessExperience of foodborne illness

MethodMethod

• Nationally (US) representative telephone Nationally (US) representative telephone surveyssurveys

• 4 waves of data collected:4 waves of data collected:– 1988, 1993, 1998, 20011988, 1993, 1998, 2001

• Sample sizes varied: 1,620 - 4,482 per Sample sizes varied: 1,620 - 4,482 per collectioncollection

• Adults onlyAdults only

Data WeightsData Weights

• Each wave adjusted for Each wave adjusted for design weightdesign weight– Number of adults in householdNumber of adults in household– Number of telephone linesNumber of telephone lines

• Each wave adjusted for Each wave adjusted for population population distributiondistribution– Current Population Survey: gender, race, Current Population Survey: gender, race,

educationeducation– Corrects for non-response biasCorrects for non-response bias

Exposure AssessmentExposure Assessment

• Risk of contaminated food depends on Risk of contaminated food depends on handling practiceshandling practices– How likely consumers are to cook product; how How likely consumers are to cook product; how

well well – How likely consumers are to cross -contaminate How likely consumers are to cross -contaminate – How likely consumers are to wash produce; how How likely consumers are to wash produce; how

effectivelyeffectively– How long consumer stores product before eating How long consumer stores product before eating

(microbial growth)(microbial growth)

Relevance to ChildrenRelevance to Children

• Sample is adults onlySample is adults only

• Number of children < 5 y and number 6 - Number of children < 5 y and number 6 - 18 y is asked18 y is asked

• Some responses also apply to children Some responses also apply to children living in the household living in the household – Food handling practices - affect childrenFood handling practices - affect children– Risky food consumption - adult respondent Risky food consumption - adult respondent

only; no information about children only; no information about children

Risk CharacterizationRisk Characterization

• Can estimate food handling safety of Can estimate food handling safety of those who prepare food for high risk those who prepare food for high risk groups groups – older adults older adults – young children young children – compromised immune statuscompromised immune status

StrengthsStrengths

• Unique source for national estimates of Unique source for national estimates of food handling practicesfood handling practices

• Data are collected every 3-5 yearsData are collected every 3-5 years• Data are weighted to adjust for design Data are weighted to adjust for design

weight and non-responseweight and non-response• Validity analyses conducted for practicesValidity analyses conducted for practices• Some comparable data available for Costa Some comparable data available for Costa

RicaRica

How to Access the DataHow to Access the Data

• SAS fileSAS file

• Not public use data setNot public use data set

• Contact Amy LandoContact Amy Lando– Contact information on the handoutContact information on the handout

Can You Collect This Type of Can You Collect This Type of Data?Data?

• Survey has been modified for data Survey has been modified for data collection in Costa Ricacollection in Costa Rica

• Much easier than dietary intake data Much easier than dietary intake data collectionscollections

• FDA will give survey questions, detailed FDA will give survey questions, detailed methods, other support. Contact Amy methods, other support. Contact Amy Lando.Lando.