P21: Measuring the Impact of Materials Distributed and Information Shared during an In-home Refrigerator Study

Abstract

Proper food handling and storage is important to prevent food-borne illness. However, little is known about actual home cold storage conditions. Temperatures and conditions of refrigerators were assessed in the homes of 98 low-income residents in Nashville, TN. Appointments were made for the interviews, during which time a thermometer was placed in each refrigerator. While the resident was being asked about their food thawing and storage practices and refrigerator temperature knowledge, another researcher was checking the temperature and completing a checklist. Each participant was given two educational flyers on proper storage and thawing practices and cleaning of a refrigerator. Furthermore, information about the temperature of the refrigerator was shared. Follow-up visits were made to 35 of the homes 3 months later. Residents were again asked about their thawing practices, refrigerator cleaning methods, the usefulness of the flyers, whether the refrigerator thermometer was being used, and other sources of food safety information. The majority of the respondents (89%) said they had read the flyers, 97% of whom found them useful. Three-fourths said they had made changes in their practices after reading the materials, the most frequent including cleaning the refrigerator differently and keeping better track of leftovers. Most (77%) still had the thermometer and 82% of those said they checked it regularly. Only one person reported receiving food safety information from a source other than the researchers. Therefore, the in-home study did appear to have a favorable impact on the participants' knowledge and practices.