Dont wash your chicken! - development of novel food safety education materials to address a common unsafe food handling practice

INTRODUCTION: Research in our laboratory using multicultural focus groups (N=9) and surveys (N=428) identified washing raw poultry as an unsafe food handling practice commonly reported by consumers of all races/ethnicities. There are currently no education materials addressing this unsafe practice. The research described here developed an education campaign and materials instructing consumers not to wash raw poultry. METHODS: Photonovelas are small comic-book like pamphlets with pictures instead of illustrations that convey a message through a short “drama”. Four photonovelas were developed to inform consumers that raw poultry should not be washed and why. Actors performed the short dramas and videos were recorded to be available through an educational website. Pictures were taken of the actors during performances for development of photonovela print materials. RESULTS: Four photonovelas and corresponding videos were created. Photonovelas shared the theme of not washing chicken, but varied in the race/ethnicity of the actors and recipes they prepared (lemon baked whole chicken, stir fry chicken, oven baked chicken and chicken molé). This was to develop a multicultural set of educational materials, as well as convey the message not to wash chicken with multiple cuts of raw poultry. The photonovelas were printed as 8.5”x 6” colored pamphlets. Photonovelas also provided consumers with the website address where they could go to learn more about this topic. DISCUSSION: Availability of education materials instructing consumers not to wash raw poultry should reduce the incidence of this practice. The efficacy of these materials will be piloted in a community-based campaign.