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The Seattle Human Services Department has launched its annual Summer Food Service Program, providing free healthy meals to children and youth aged 1-18. The program, known as the Summer Meals Program, is designed to fill the gap during the summer months when schools are not in session. The program, which operates at 62 sites across the city, provides up to two meals or one meal and one snack per day, with meals served onsite. The program is expected to serve over 100,000 meals and almost as many snacks this year. The program is a full-circle moment for Temesgen Melashu, Human Service Department’s Out of School Time Meal’s Coordinator for the Summer Food Service Program, who was once a participant of the program. The program is a vital lifeline for many families, especially as the cost of living and food continues to rise. The program is expected to operate through August 23, 2024, and all Seattle residents, regardless of immigration status, are eligible for City of Seattle programs and services. What are your thoughts on the importance of such programs in addressing food insecurity among children and youth? How can we ensure that these programs continue to reach those in need?

I’ve been in involved with school food service for so long that I remember when no one seemed to care about asking this question? Or even knew they could ask it. “Why are schools still serving highly processed foods to our students?” I’ve been interacting recently with many local parents these past few weeks because of holiday parties. Many of them know that I worked for years as a School Food Service Director, but none of the know of my recent role at the National Farm to School Network. I give them a quick update on our work regarding values aligned procurement strategies, advocacy work and educational resources. 100% of the time people are excited to learn of our work and 100% of the time people ask, “why is the food in our schools still high in sugar, salts and not real food!!” I always find myself defending the School Food Service programs by saying that it is a very complex problem, but one that can be resolved IF the entire community makes healthier school meals a priority. That always leads to more questions about school food service programs, but obviously not a solution that can be resolved at a holiday party. There are solutions to answering this question, but without the voices from the community at large, it’s not going to be sustainable solution. We are working diligently at the National Farm to School Network to bring YOUR voices to the Farm to School table. Three simple things you can do at the moment. 1. Become a member of NFSN. There is no cost. Go to https://lnkd.in/dS2ZEy2x 2. Follow National Farm to School Network on LinkedIn. 3. Encourage others to do the same. That’s it! Simple. Not everyone will roll up their sleeves to do the work, but EVERYONE can and should be at the “Farm to School Table” mv

Too Little, Too Late: : Don’t trust the Alberta Tarsands Tarnation with the Air You Breathe, the Water Your Drink OR The Food You Eat, Eh?⚠️⛔️⚠️ Globe & Mail - Alanna Smith: Alberta promises to toughen food-safety oversight after daycare E. coli report. A report ordered by Alberta after an E. coli outbreak that sickened hundreds of children identified a number of deficiencies with the province’s food safety regulations and oversight, including limited public health inspections and inadequate enforcement tools. 
Roughly 450 people, mostly children, were infected last fall in Calgary in connection to 11 daycares across the city, which shared a central kitchen. Thirty-eight children and one adult wound up in hospital because of the bacterial infection and, nearly a year later, some children are still receiving care because of persistent health issues, according to the report. 
No new conclusions were drawn about the cause of the outbreak in the 104-page document or in the separate outbreak inspection report by Alberta Health Services, both of which were released on Monday.

It has long been known that meatloaf and its vegan counterpart served to daycare children were the likely source of infection, but the AHS report concluded that investigators can’t yet identify where exactly the E. coli strain came from or explain why some facilities were harder-hit than others. Those questions are unlikely to ever be answered. 
The outbreak was declared over last October.
Former Calgary police chief Rick Hanson, who chaired the food safety and licensed facility-based child-care panel, said the review involved input from stakeholders, affected families and experts in the sector. He said the review, which took seven months to complete, made clear that “the food safety expectations of Albertans are not being met” and therefore significant reform to the province’s rules and practices is needed. 
Mr. Hanson said the panel’s 39 recommendations, which involve changes to legislation and more broadly fostering a culture of food safety, provide a roadmap to create a “safe and effective food safety system.” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who joined him at a news conference on Monday, said her government intends to implement all proposals, but noted some may require consultation with child-care operators and take longer to fulfill. 
“When parents put their children in daycare, they do so trusting that their kids will be cared for and kept safe,” she said. “We know this outbreak has shaken that trust and, as policy makers, we must do whatever we can to ensure this doesn’t happen again.” https://lnkd.in/gw53jW6K

💡| That's a really good question Amberley Ruetz, PhD! Discover the answer to this question by visiting the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph website and checking out the beautiful design by the incredible Alexandra Sawatzky, Ph.D.! Find out how a national school food policy and program can make a difference in #Canada!

👶🍏 Celebrating Food Safety Day with our Kids 2024! 🍏👶 Today, we shine a spotlight on the importance of food safety for our children, our most precious assets. On Food Safety for Our Kids Day 2024, we are reminded that ensuring safe, nutritious food for children is a shared responsibility that begins with us. 🏆 Why Food Safety for Kids Matters: Protecting Their Health: Children are more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses due to their developing immune systems. Supporting Growth: Safe and nutritious food is essential for proper growth and cognitive development. Building Healthy Habits: Teaching kids about food safety instills lifelong habits of healthy eating and hygiene. Creating a Safe Environment: A commitment to food safety at home, schools, and daycare centers ensures a healthier future for our kids. 🚀 Our Commitment to Food Safety for Kids: At FAHSS, we are dedicated to providing the safest and healthiest food options for children. From farm to fork, we prioritize stringent food safety practices to protect our little ones. #Ahmadkandil #Foodcast #FoodSafety #FoodSafetyDay #SafeFoodForKids #ChildHealth #NutritiousFood #FoodSafety2024 #HealthyEating #PublicHealth #ISO22000 #HACCP #SustainableFuture #FAHSS

🚩 🚩 Food safety inspectors uncover shocking violations in a central kitchen! 🦗🚰 Health code breaches include cockroaches, pooling water, and improper storage of food thermometers. Read more about this alarming discovery in Food Safety News. 📰✅ “The operator indicated that cold foods were transported to other locations over 90 minutes without temperature control. Appropriate equipment for keeping food cold during transport was not available,” inspectors reported." 🔍 It's time to shed light on a disturbing reality: health hazards in food facilities. 💔🐀🔐 My book "Who Watches the Kitchen?" unveils the graphic truth behind cockroach and rat infestations that can put people's lives at risk. This recent case alone resulted in 446 reported patients, with 356 lab-confirmed and 90 probable cases! Taking action as a former health inspector wasn't easy, but it was necessary to protect public health. Learn more about this urgent issue and the steps we can take to prevent it. 📚✅ This doesn't have to happen. Who Watches the Kitchen - Amazon: https://a.co/d/hTZaRWL #FoodSafety #PublicHealth #HealthHazards #HealthCode #Inspections #KnowledgeIsPower #StopFoodborneIllness

Access to safe and nutritious food is an important part of childhood development. While we are blessed to have a well-regulated food production system in Australia, food can still make people sick if basic hygiene practices aren’t followed. Washing your hands before eating or handling food is one of the most basic food safety practices that can be followed to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, yet one-third of young people (under 34 years) admit to not always washing their hands before touching food. This is concerning given the likelihood of this age group in caring for young children. In recognition of Queensland Children’s Week by Children's Rights Queensland, we’ve published a new article for parents and caregivers on how to help children develop handwashing skills for life. Check it out here, https://lnkd.in/gYkEn6Uy #QLDChildrensWeek #Handwashing #WashYourHands #Foodsafety

Schools Rethink Lunch Menus After Student’s Choking Death - https://lnkd.in/gMQMyScP TOKYO, Apr 02 (News On Japan) - A tragic incident occurred a month ago where a first-grade boy died from choking on a quail egg during school lunch. Since then, there's been a widespread move to remove quail eggs from school menus. But is this the right decision? https://lnkd.in/gSvUuPWg Quail eggs, which can be boiled, fried, or scrambled, have long been a popular ingredient in various dishes, beloved by children and adults alike. However, they now find themselves in an unexpected predicament. The issue began in February when a first-grade boy at a primary school in Fukuoka Prefecture choked to death during lunch. The quail egg used in miso oden is believed to have caused the fatal choking. Following the incident, the city's board of education decided to temporarily suspend the serving of quail eggs in school lunches. The problem did not end there. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi: "In light of this case, we are requesting that prefectures and boards of education across the country thoroughly implement guidance to prevent choking accidents in school lunches and work towards preventing recurrence." In the wake of efforts to prevent further incidents, more schools are choosing to "exclude" quail eggs from their menus. This has had a significant impact on "producers." Hamamatsu Farm President, Tetsuji Kondo: "We haven't done anything wrong, so it's a situation where we're left feeling helpless." Hamamatsu Farm has experienced a reduction in shipments due to the backlash against quail eggs. Kondo: "Overall, there's been about a 10% impact on our shipments. Quail eggs have been used in school lunches for many years for a reason. They're nutritious, affordable, and safe to handle." Online, there are also various opinions. From X: "Isn't teaching kids to chew properly also a part of food education?" "Maybe they should just cut them smaller or only exclude them for lower grades." "I don't think not letting them eat at all is appropriate." However, some experts argue that quail eggs are a no-go for first graders. Why shouldn't they be fed to first graders? Is the move to exclude them the right decision? Source: ANN Source

✨ This week’s spotlight shines a light on Kapish Chhabra and the recent Vancouver Food Systems Dialogue held at Vancouver City Hall. Kapish is a Columbia College, Vancouver BC. student and Community Connections practicum student with the Vancouver Food Justice Coalition (placement co-facilitated by Vancouver Food Runners). As Kapish’s placement wraps up, he reflects on what he’s learned over the last six months and shares about the primary project he was involved with: the Vancouver Food Systems Dialogue. SNEAK PEEK: ❓VFR: Kapish, what are some of your key reflections from the Dialogue? What stood out to you that day?   Kapish: One of the most striking aspects of the Vancouver Food Systems Dialogue for me was the active participation of elected City Council members. Their presence demonstrated a significant willingness to engage with community voices and collaborate on finding solutions to pressing issues within our food systems. It was encouraging to see elected officials taking the time to listen to the lived experiences and expertise shared by community members and experts during the Dialogue.   Furthermore, the willingness of diverse stakeholders to come together and engage in meaningful dialogue was inspiring. It highlighted the power of collaboration in addressing complex issues like food insecurity and building more equitable food systems.   I really liked how despite facing numerous challenges, including those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, community organizations and individuals demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability in their efforts to address food insecurity and support vulnerable populations.   Overall, the willingness of elected council members to be part of the Vancouver Food Systems Dialogue signalled a positive step towards building stronger connections between communities and government and working collaboratively to address systemic issues within our food systems.   Click the link to learn more! https://lnkd.in/gqtPPFnP

This Webinar will discuss recent changes to the National Food Standards Code which now impacts certain Long Daycare and Outside School Hours Care Services (OSHC) that prepare and serve potentially hazardous food and unpackaged food on an ongoing basis. Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gKpbXizw These new requirements are in place from 8th December 2023 and include: ✔ having a qualified Food Safety Supervisor, and ✔ ensuring all food handlers can demonstrate adequate skills and knowledge in food safety and hygiene, and ✔ be able to show that food is safe (including record keeping practices). Join Dr Mary Anne Hall as she provides an information session on learning about your obligations under this new food safety legislation. Topics covered in this Webinar include: ✔ The requirements of the food safety legislation. ✔ What training Educators and care personnel may need to undertake to be compliant. ✔ Who is responsible for ensuring legislation compliance. ✔ The risks of non-compliance. ✔ Obligations for Long Daycare, OSHC and Family Daycare Providers (as relevant). This Webinar is recommended for all those responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures in relation to food preparation, safety and hygiene. It is also recommended for Group Leaders, Educators and caregivers who are responsible for the daily care and supervision of children. Food safety and hygiene is a priority for childcare regulators. Under the National Quality Framework, Quality Area 2, Element 2.1.2 Health practices and procedures and Element 2.1.3 Healthy lifestyles. *Obligations under the legislation varies from state to state. Your regulator should have advised you about the new Food Standards, and whether you are impacted as a Category 1 or a Category 2 provider. Contact the Food Enforcement Agency relevant to your state for further information.