U.S./ Mexico border health issues: Using partnerships to build an effective educational tool for Listerosis

In response to several outbreaks of unpastuerized cheese poisonings along the US/ Mexico border region, a multi-agency workgroup was created to develop strategies to address the health risks associated with these cheeses. The workgroup identified development of a culturally appropriate community education campaign to change long held attitudes and beliefs about health risks associated with unpasteurized soft cheeses as a priority. Several key individuals from multiple agencies were identified to develop an educational tool to address the dangers of consumption and illegal production of soft cheese.

Many factors are involved which influence Latinos to buy and consume unpasterized soft cheeses. A strong cultural component to this is that individuals are simply purchasing this food item in the manner of their country of origin. In Latin America, individuals can purchase fresh cheese by local street vendors and solicitors that make home visits to residents. Many of these vendors do not use appropriate measures to ensure safety to the consumer including refrigeration, labeling, and unhygienic methods of storing. Other common factors that influence consumers include lower-cost and home made taste.

As a partner in the binational effort to address US/ Mexico border health issues, the Orange County Health Care Agency collaborated with several local and state agencies to design and develop an educational brochure to address long held traditional beliefs of soft cheeses. The group consisted of a mix of environmental health and health education professionals with insights to address the target population. The working group developed a coordinated team approach utilizing health education methods including peer review, field testing and evaluation. An interesting assortment of responses from the target audience provided health professionals with additional insight into how health decisions are made and of the barriers to seeking safer cheese alternatives.