Individual Presentation: Revolutionizing Food Safety Education: Accessible Online Learning for a Diverse Workforce

Food safety education is critical for ensuring a safe and reliable food supply chain, but traditional training methods often fall short in fostering a consistent food safety culture among key stakeholders, including corporate leaders, manufacturers, and consumers. Many groups, such as workers in retail and manufacturing roles or those with limited formal education, are frequently overlooked in current food safety programs. This lack of tailored training contributes to repeated outbreaks and product recalls. This session focuses on bridging the education gap by presenting online training methods designed to make food safety education more accessible, engaging, and effective. A special focus will be placed on using these innovative approaches to build a stronger, systematic food safety culture across the entire supply chain.

This presentation will feature practical examples of how casual learning can be integrated into everyday routines through mobile-friendly tools like smartphone-based lessons and short, interactive modules. These approaches are designed to fit into fragmented schedules, providing flexible, on-the-go learning options. The session will also explore strategies to strengthen food safety culture in corporate environments through targeted training programs that address the specific needs of modern workplaces.

Using case studies from Purdue’s online food safety training efforts, this session will offer attendees actionable insights into designing online content that is both inclusive and scalable. The importance of incorporating features such as multilingual resources, digital literacy support, and accessibility options will also be discussed. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to apply in their organizations, helping them to advance food safety education and contribute to a safer, more effective food system.