Science and Our Food Supply: Investigating Food Safety from Farm to Table

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MIDDLE LEVEL

CROSSED UP! 

Time to review and summarize. 

REVIEW

1. 

Did you find any bacteria? Where? Were you  

surprised with your findings? Why or why not? 

2. 

Why is it a problem to find bacteria on a kitchen 

sponge, dishcloth, dish towel, etc.? (Bacteria from 

these items can spread to other surfaces and then 

to food.) 

3. 

To what surfaces can the bacteria spread?  

(Cutting boards, utensils, kitchen equipment, 

countertops, etc.) How can bacteria spread  

from your hands to other things? (Bacteria can 

spread from your hands to other things when 

contaminated hands touch those surfaces.) 

4. 

What can you do to prevent cross-contamination? 

(Wash your hands thoroughly. Frequently wash 

sponges, dishcloths, and dish towels. Wash cutting 

boards, countertops, and cooking utensils with 

hot, soapy water after each use.) 

5. 

What can you personally do to reduce the spread  

of bacteria in your kitchen at home? (Follow  

the 4 Cs — especially Clean and Combat  

Cross-Contamination. See the 4 Cs section in the 

Food Safety A to Z Reference Guide.) 

6. 

Did you discover that you were “guilty” of any 

unsafe practices in the kitchen? If so, what’s your 

strategy for correcting those unsafe practices? 

7. 

How do your findings from this lab relate to  

the Bacteria Everywhere lab in Module 1 —  

Understanding Bacteria? (They show that bacteria 

are everywhere and can spread from hands to  

surfaces and to food.) 

• 

Develop a Home Food Safety Survey based on the results of your investigation. Give the survey to at 

least 5 family members, friends, relatives, or neighbors to survey their kitchens. Tally the answers. 

• 

Using the survey results, develop a “kitchen safety” brochure or web page explaining how to prevent 

cross-contamination in the kitchen. 

• 

Use your food safety portfolio to record how your foodborne pathogen relates to your findings from 

this experiment. 

EXTENSIONS

 MODULE 4:

 RETAIL AND HOME

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