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

UNW

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UNW

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UNW

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UNW

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UNW

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UNW

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UNW

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UNW

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UNW

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Lan Hu,

 Ph.D

., Dennis J

. K

opeck

o,

 Ph.D

., 

and Ben 

Tall,

 Ph.D

.

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MIDDLE LEVEL

ACTIVITIES & LABS

Module 2 includes an activity and video module to explore the 

first step in the Farm-to-Table Continuum. 

Chain of Food 

 —  explores the path food takes 

along the Farm-to-Table Continuum. 

Time to Tune In  

The video highlights scientific 

techniques being used to  

promote food safety on  

the farm.

Who’s responsible for food safety? It’s everyone’s 

responsibility, from the farmers who grow the food 

to the people who place the food on your table. 

MODULE

2

FARM

SCIENCE CONTENT

This section explains the specific science concepts 

presented in Module 2 of the video, including 

fascinating facts relative to the module. Read 

this section before watching the video module or 

conducting the activities and labs. 

!

FASCINATING FACT

Microbes eating the organic materials in the 

compost heat up so much that they actually 

cook themselves. 

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MIDDLE LEVEL

There are many places on a farm that can be contaminated by harmful bacteria, so 

farmers have to make sure that the areas where food is handled are kept clean and at 

the right temperature. There are many innovations on the farm that help prevent the 

growth of bacteria — like special areas for washing vegetables, refrigerated storage 

areas for milk and eggs, and portable sanitation in fields.