FOOD SAFETY&

EDUCATION(STUDY ON GREENLEAF)

Aihui YuJen LeeJiaxi LiuTiannu Guo

Claim

As the number of issues related to food safety and horticulture education are increasing, we are going to argue that learning and knowing the issues through community gardens such as GreenLeaf that produce healthy and organic food and develop the community is important.

Food safety

History of Food Safety

After World War II, countries such as Japan and the United

States, realized agricultural modernization one after

another that was based on the industrial modernization.

This achievement helped these countries enrich the food

supplies; however, some food safety problems came up.

Food Additives and how they Affect Children

What are food additives?invented in the 1930spreserve flavors or improve

appearance Common additives: coloring

agents, flavoring agents, sweeteners, preservatives, etc.

Over 3000 additives are used in USA food industry

Food additives are a burden to our bodies

Issues on food additives standards

Approval process of standard was only test additives in separate

Standards are based on adults  Effects on children

Smaller body than adults60 of ‘safe’ additives have

been associated with children’s behavioral problems

For example - hyperactivity.(Food colorings and a

preservative, which could be found a huge amount in soft drinks)

Food-borne disease

What is food-borne illness?

Food-borne illness is also called food poisoning and is

caused when toxic levels of pathogens or bacteria appear in

food.

Food-borne disease Situation:  Many people are facing this disease each year. Developed countries: United States: 14 million illnesses, 60,000 hospitalizations, and 1,800 deaths each year. Australia: There have been cases of food poisoning over the past 10 years.  Developing country: China: 2,305 food poisoning accidents during 2004. 42,876 people were involved and 255 people died. Compared with 2003, the number of accidents, the number of people involved and the number of deaths changed respectively 55.6%, 44.9% and −0.03%.

Education on food safety

Research done by Yarrow and RemigFocus on food safety attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and self-

reported practices Result of the research Based on their data and conclusion, students in different majors react to food safety problems very differently. Health major students are more likely to be concerned about food safety than non-health major ones. However, after a proper food safety education, students’ attitudes toward food safety improve, which indicates that education is helpful and useful.

Education and gardening background

Because we know that food additives cause negative effects such as food-borne illness among children, adults need to educate children about sustainability. One of the most popular activities about sustainability is gardening.

Sustainable Horticulture

Sustainable Horticulture Sustainable horticulture is the term that explains the process of planting or growing organic food products. Since the term ‘sustainable horticulture’ is fairly new, if the concept of it is not developed or supported among people, the term will lose the meaning and will not have any influence on people’s lives.

Education on gardening

BackgroundRecently, a lot of educators have

participated in sustainable practices. They are aware that sustainability, especially in gardening, needs to be appreciated and that students can find so much potential from gardening activities. Impact of Garden-Based Nutrition

Education and Positive EffectsChildren’s outdoor gardening

experiences helped them to acquire more learning and understanding skills.

By touching the soil and planting and growing their own plants, children gained a significant amount of general nutrition knowledge about gardening. Overall outcomes demonstrate good health and reduced disease risk.

Analysis

Food Safety: The study shows that college students need to be educated in food safety, one of the most significant parts of daily life. Not only health major students need to deal with food, but also all major students need to learn about food and food safety. Education on food safety is essential to students; and it also will benefit them in their future lives.

Gardening: Because the experiments about gardening with children demonstrate positive effects, it is important for people to be aware how gardening can fix health problems such as diabetes and improve children’s academic performance.

Solution: GreenLeaf

GreenLeaf engages youth in urban agriculture, farming on available lots in neighborhoods that don't have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

GreenLeaf: Participants

At GreenLeaf young people

ages 14 – 18 earn a fair wage

while they grow food for their

communities and explore

issues of health, nutrition, and

social justice. 

TED – Leah Bry (GreenLeaf)

Leah Bry's TED: the founder and executive director of GreenLeaf

Relationship with the Local Food Community

In a society where a lot of Americans forget about the value of the food that they are eating and prefer to eat fast food to save their time or money, by being established in a highly industrialized neighborhood where people cannot get access to healthy vegetables or fruits, GreenLeaf gives opportunities and suggests people to eat healthy.

Relationship with the Local Food Community (Cont.)

20% of food goes to Hunger Relief Organization for donations

65% are sold to markets 15% is consumed from participants

Relationship with the Local Food Community (Cont.)

Discovered what it's like to make personnel decisions since he and his co-workers jointly hire new staff.

Become adept at public speaking, giving presentations in huge auditoriums and fielding questions from listeners.

Learned about aquaponics – a cutting-edge, sustainable food production system – plus a lot of old-fashioned gardening techniques.

Tasted fresh fruits and vegetables that he had never even heard of before, such as a haogen melon that was "incredible."

Learned business skills and honed better work habits such as getting to his job on time every day.

Result of the survey

School of YearFreshmanSophmoreJuniorSenior

Gender

FemaleMale

EthnicityCaucasianBlackAsianOthers

Result of the survey

States in US

Colorado TexasCalifornia IllinoisHawaii OregonIdaho Massa-

chusettsOthers

Do you think you are eating healthy?

Yes

No

Probably Yes

Porbably No

Between Yes and No

Conclusion

Positive effects through community gardens are

demonstrated by children's improved health and

academics. GreenLeaf is a great example. If more

schools and families become involved in

community gardens, people will reach more

fruitions.