What could be more personal than the food you eat? The issue of food safety is as close as your next meal. Yet it covers such widespread challenges as food recalls and imports, the state's booming food processing industry, organic growers and school lunch programs.
New to the world of food safety? Download the science of food safety infographic.
Learn more about both commercial and home food safety through the resources offered by UGA Extension.
Our Programs and Services
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Food Safety for Civic Groups & Churches How-to's of safe food handling for members of community organizations.
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Food Safety for Concession Stands Don't let your event be in the news for making customers and friends sick!
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HACCP Certification Short Course for Meat & Poultry Certification meets the USDA's training requirements and teaches Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point principles.
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Process Approval for Food Products Obtain a letter of process approval for your food product.
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ServSafe® Training Food safety training using the National and Georgia Restaurant Associations ServSafe® program.
Recent Publications
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Preparación para Emergencias: Almacenamiento de Alimentos a Largo Plazo para Desastres (C 1310-SP) Esta publicación proporciona orientación práctica para individuos y familias, cubriendo aspectos esenciales como la planificación, la selección de recipientes adecuados y el mantenimiento de los alime…
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Emergency Preparedness: Long-Term Food Storage for Disasters (C 1310) This publication provides practical guidance for individuals and families, covering essential aspects such as planning, selecting suitable containers, and maintaining stored foods during emergencies l…
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Grill & Chill: Unleash Flavor Safely with Outdoor Cooking and Grilling (C 1309) Ensure food safety during your outdoor culinary adventures this summer. Whether you are a seasoned griller or a beginner, this guide has you covered with the top 10 tips for a safe and delicious exper…
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Spanish Series: Asar y enfriar: ¡Libere el sabor de las comidas de forma segura al cocinar y asar al aire libre! (C 1309-SP) Garantice la seguridad alimentaria durante sus aventuras culinarias al aire libre este verano. Ya sea que sea un asador experimentado o un principiante, esta guía lo cubre con los 10 mejores consejos …
Websites
UGA-affiliated sites
Center for Food Safety Engages in research for the maintenance and improvement of the microbiological safety of the world's food supply.
Food Safety and Preservation Family and Consumer Sciences' Extension information related to food safety and preservation.
Food Science Extension Outreach Program Provides the public and the food industry with unbiased, research-based food safety education.
Food Selection, Buying and Preparation Family and Consumer Sciences' Extension information related to selecting, buying, and preparing food.
UGA Department of Food Science and Technology Learn more about the food science and technology department at the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences Learn more about the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at UGA.
External sites
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tracking single cases of foodborne illness and investigating outbreaks are critical public health functions in which CDC is deeply involved.
FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of our nation's food supply.
Fight BAC! Food Safety Education Campaign A food-safety program presented by the Partnership for Food Safety Education, a non-profit organization that engages public and private sector partners in educating the public about the importance of safe food handling to good health.
Food Marketing Institute FMI provides leadership to retailers and wholesalers of food and consumer products, as well as to their supplier partners, by fostering their growth and promoting their role in feeding families and enriching the lives of their customers.
FoodSafety.gov FoodSafety.gov is the gateway to food safety information provided by government agencies.
Georgia Division of Public Health DPH is the lead division entrusted by the people of the state of Georgia with the ultimate responsibility for the health of communities and the entire population.
International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation The International Food Information Council Foundation provides food safety, nutrition, and healthful eating information to help you make good and safe food choices.
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome and correctly labeled and packaged.
Farm Food Safety
- Farm Self-Help Form
- On The Farm
- Land Use
- Water Use
- Manure Use
- Farm Worker Hygiene
- Farm Worker Toilet and Handwashing Facilities
- Harvesting and Storage
- Transporting Produce Safely
- Training and Certification Options
- Ideal Storage and Shelf-Life for Fruits and Vegetables
Farmers Market Food Safety
Factsheets
Videos
- Introduction to food safety at the farmers market
- Getting products ready for the market
- Safety of fresh fruits and vegetables
- Safety of cottage foods
- Safety of foods that require special training
- Best practices for handling foods in markets
- Hygiene and handwashing in the market
Free Online Course for Small Farms
On the Farm - Free online course for farmers on small farms on the national eXtension website. This is for farmers on small farms who sell directly to the public and are not subject to the Produce Safety Rule.
At the Market - Free online course for managers of famers markets on the national eXtension website.
Cottage Foods in Georgia
Cottage foods are foods allowed to be prepared in a home kitchen for selling to the public. In Georgia, licensed cottage food operators can make and sell only foods that are defined as non-potentially hazardous. Licensed cottage food operators can legally sell their products at non-profit events, for-profit events and may also conduct internet sales within the state of Georgia. For more information on the products allowed for sale as cottage foods and for information on becoming a licensed cottage food operator, visit the following links.
Cottage Food Webinar – UGA and Georgia Dept. of Agriculture
Cottage Food Program Website – Georgia Dept. of Agriculture
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Nourished by Nature UGA's new Master Forager program was developed in response to public interest in safe foraging.
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Emergency Preparedness When disasters strike, navigating the milieu of steps to recover and rebuild can be difficult. With a presence in all 159 Georgia counties, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is uniquely positioned to help communities prepare for and rebound from calamity.
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Reducing Food Waste Consumers hold high standards for fresh food, which farmers aim to meet, but hot summer temperatures and long-haul deliveries can degrade quality even before produce makes it into stores and shipment rejection is a familiar reality in the horticultural industry.
