Food Safety - Reducing the Risk of Food-Borne Illness at Camp
Risk Management

by Ed Schirick

The United States enjoys one of the safest food supplies in the world. This fact should not cause you to be too comfortable or complacent, however. Recent studies and news stories raise a lot of questions about the safety of the nation's food supply and confirm there is still plenty of room for improvement.

The Risk Is Real

Several months ago, ground beef contaminated with e-coil 0157 bacteria was discovered at a fast-food restaurant after several people became ill. The company that processed the beef closed. Their product was recalled. Recently, a television news magazine did a story about how eggs are processed and identified abuses in establishment of shelf freshness dates. The importance of food storage at proper temperatures, thorough cooking, and the risk of salmonella were emphasized in the broadcast.

Magazine tests poultry
Consumer Reports conducted and published a study about poultry in their March 1998 issue. Researchers purchased store brands and premium brands of chicken described as "free range" in order to test a broad cross-section of the market.

Consumer Reports representatives purchased one thousand whole fresh chickens from various grocery stores in thirty-six cities over a five-week period. The birds were tested by an independent laboratory.

Test results showed campylobacter was present in 63 percent of the chickens, salmonella in 16 percent, and both strains of bacteria present in 8 percent of the poultry tested. Only 29 percent of the chickens tested were free of both bacteria. Harmful bacteria were found in a shocking 71 percent of the chickens in the study!

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the number of outbreaks of illness caused by chicken rose 300 percent. Salmonella was the culprit in most of these outbreaks. But today, campylobacter is causing more people to become ill than salmonella.

A Preventable Risk

Improper handling, storage, and cooking of food present a number of risks at camp. However, these potential risks are often overlooked or underestimated in camp risk management plans, which generally focus only on program and other operational risks.

Food for thought
The consequences of food-borne illness at camp are considerable. What if . . .

• you had to close your facility?
• the Health Department forced you to close?
• you had to return a portion of your unearned tuition?
• you had to manage the public relations implications of a closure due to food-borne illness?

The nature of these questions shows that the risk of food-borne illness is significant. It can present huge problems to camp directors or risk managers. Frankly, it has the potential for ruining your business. The tragedy, aside from the sickness and pain people might suffer, is that food- borne illness is preventable.

Focus on Prevention

What can you do to reduce the risk of contaminated food or prevent the problem altogether? The first step is increased awareness. Hire qualified people. Secure documentation of their experience, and have them demonstrate their knowledge. Read and follow the ACA standards and stay abreast of other industry reports.

Educate everyone connected with the kitchen. Don't assume people - including the cook - know. Sometimes people fall into bad habits or lose sight of the importance of the following four fundamentals of food safety.

Keep clean
Keeping hands and utensils clean is essential. Always wash hands after handling poultry and other meat. Clean knives, forks, spoons, pots, and pans before using them to prepare other foods during the cooking process. Good personal hygiene is critical in the kitchen at all times. Handwashing should not be limited to bathrooms after use of the toilet. Proper washing and cleaning practices will help prevent cross-contaminating foods.

Prevent cross-contamination
If your hands or knives, forks, and other utensils are not cleaned after preparing each different food, you run the risk of unknowingly passing salmonella or campylobacter along to other foods. Some food service organizations have begun using disposable gloves as a way of reducing the risk of cross-contamination. Another technique involves designating certain areas exclusively for the preparation of certain high-risk foods. Disinfecting work surfaces is also essential. ACA Standards A-27 and A-28 address cross-contamination.

Cook to proper temperature
How does a cook know when the food is done? Should he rely on the temperature settings of ovens, how long the food has been cooking, or the color of the food to know when it is ready to serve? The answer is none of the above. Health Department and food-service professionals advise relying on a meat thermometer, even when cooking hamburgers, to determine doneness.

Cooks should know proper internal temperatures of cooked meats, and food should not be served until the cook is satisfied that this temperature has been reached. The cook and the camp director or owner are responsible for ensuring that food is cooked at the proper temperature. This is particularly difficult on cookouts and overnights, but the rules should still be applied.

Store foods correctly
Store foods properly prior to cooking: less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit in the refrigerator and zero degrees Fahrenheit in the freezer. Also, hold foods at the proper temperature, 140 degrees Fahrenheit in most states, prior to serving. ACA Standards A-26 and A-27 address correct storage procedures. Temperature logs must be maintained so problems can be identified and corrective action taken immediately.

After serving, refrigerate potentially hazardous foods quickly. Leaving certain items out too long may increase the risk of bacterial growth and cause illness. Pay special attention to keeping perishable foods within proper temperature ranges on cookouts and overnights. Check ACA Standards D-19 and G-11, especially part D which is mandatory.

What's Your Plan?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established and implemented a new inspection program for poultry and meat. In December 1997, the Clinton Administration proposed an additional $71 million in spending for federal food safety programs in the next budget. But, in the mean time, the public is dealing with certain foods that may not be as safe as once thought. What is your plan to manage this risk and reduce the potential for food-borne illness in your camp?

Reports of food-related illnesses at camp seem to appear every summer. Most cases are minor. But, it is possible to have a large and serious outbreak of food-related illness at camp. Considering the potential harm, camp directors must insist upon safe food handling practices in their kitchens. Education and increased awareness are key. Good execution of your plan is also critical to success.

So with summer underway, is there still time to impact how you manage the risk of food-borne illness at your camp? Yes, but, you must act now!

Originally published in the 1998 July/August issue of Camping Magazine.