Release No. 0399.03

Steven Cohen (202) 720-9113
Jean Daniel (703) 305-2286

USDA Partners With Food Banks on Thanksgiving Food Distribution Efforts

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 25, 2003 - Top U.S. Department of Agriculture officials today highlighted the partnerships between USDA and community and faith-based organizations that provide food to needy families and individuals during an event today at the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank. These partnerships are a critical component of Bush Administration efforts to ensure access to nutrition assistance as well as provide information and education on safe food handling practices.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Food Safety Dr. Elsa A. Murano and Agriculture Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Eric M. Bost met with local volunteers who will deliver more than 2,000 turkeys to area families this Thanksgiving.

"As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, it's important to remember that not everyone in our communities can look forward to a special meal on that day - or any day," said Bost. "Faith-based and community organizations like the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank can make the difference between putting food on the table and going hungry."

Dr. Murano participated in a food safety demonstration with noted Philadelphia chef Delilah Winder and discussed the importance for all Americans to educate themselves on basic food handling and cooking practices in the home in order to prevent foodborne illness.

"Thanksgiving is the time of the year for family gatherings so it is important to understand the food safety challenges when cooking for larger groups," said Murano. "By following the four basic food safety steps, you can have the peace of mind that your guests will have a meal that is both delicious and safe."

The four basic food safety steps are:

• Clean - Wash hands and surfaces often.
• Separate - Don't allow cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods.
• Cook - Cook food to the safe internal temperature. Check temperature with a food thermometer.
• Chill - Refrigerate or freeze promptly.

USDA provided the volunteers with information packets on food safety and food thermometers, which will be given to each family who receives a turkey. For more food safety information in English and Spanish, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854); TTY: 1-800-256-7072. The Hotline's hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern Time, year-round, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

An extensive selection of timely food safety messages is available at the same number 24 hours a day. Information can also be accessed on the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov . E-mail inquiries may be directed to MPHotline.fsis@usda.gov .

Also in Philadelphia today is Bert Farrish of the USDA Farm Service Agency who participated in an event at the SHARE Food Program where SHARE, together with Feed the Children, the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger and Athletes First helped distribute 400 boxes of personal care and non-perishable food items including instantized non-fat dry milk that USDA has made available to faith-based and community organizations.

USDA has a long history of establishing partnerships with faith-based organizations to deliver services in many of its programs. USDA administers 15 federal nutrition programs that touch the lives of one in every five people every day, including the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Food Stamp Program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

The non-fat dry milk donations are part of USDA's National Nonprofit Humanitarian Initiative, announced in September, that donates non-fat dry milk to nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations for use in meal services or for distribution to needy recipients. The non-fat dry milk is being provided to qualified nonprofit charitable organizations, including many that do not currently participate in the distribution of USDA commodities. USDA is making available a total of 48 million pounds of instantized non-fat dry milk fortified with vitamins A and D. Additionally, 25 million pounds of non-fortified NDM, which is appropriate for cooking or baking, also is available.