Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- July 1, 2008

Cooking for crowds takes special skills and training (:53)

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Suggested Intro:

SUMMER MEANS OUTDOOR EATING IN PENNSYLVANIA, AS MILLIONS ENJOY FOODS AT FAIRS, BAZAARS AND COOKOUTS. BUT A FOOD SAFETY EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS THE VOLUNTEER FOOD SERVERS NEED FOOD-SAFETY BASIC TRAINING. MORE FROM GARY ABDULLAH:

Story:

(:14) MANY CHURCH AND CIVIC GROUPS FUND THEIR YEAR-LONG ACTIVITIES THROUGH FOOD BOOTHS AT FAIRS AND FESTIVALS. BUT PENN STATE FOOD SAFETY SPECIALIST MARTIN BUCKNAVAGE CITES A FESTIVAL IN CHICAGO WHERE ONE VENDOR'S CONTAMINATED FOOD CAUSED MORE THAN 700 CASES OF SALMONELLOSIS.

(:08) BUCKNAVAGE SAYS MANY VOLUNTEERS DON'T APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COOKING AT HOME AND SERVING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE OUT OF DOORS - AND THAT CAN CREATE PROBLEMS:

Bucknavage Actuality:
(:15) "WHEN YOU'RE OUTDOORS AND YOU'RE WORKING WITH FOOD, YOU'RE HANDLING LARGER QUANTITIES, YOU'RE MAYBE NOT CLEANING UP AS WELL AS YOU SHOULD, YOU'RE RUSHING AROUND A LOT MORE. AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NORMALLY DON'T WORK IN A RESTAURANT, A SLIP-UP OF MISSING WASHING YOUR HANDS CAN AFFECT A LOT LARGER NUMBER OF PEOPLE."

(:17) BUCKNAVAGE SAYS A PENN STATE EXTENSION COURSE ON "COOKING FOR CROWDS" PRESENTS TECHNIQUES FOR SERVING FOOD TO LARGE NUMBERS SAFELY. YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ONLINE FROM PENN STATE PUBLICATIONS AT PUBS DOT C-A-S DOT P-S-U DOT E-D-U, OR FROM YOUR COUNTY PENN STATE EXTENSION OFFICE. I'M GARY ABDULLAH.

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Learn more:

"COOKING FOR CROWDS" website

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