619: Review Food Safety Policies, New Misinformation Toolkit

ROBERT JOHNSON:   

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Tuesday, March 12, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. 

SUSAN KANSAGRA:   

Again, it was really thanks for the tenacity of this particular inspector and the family that they were able to eventually, after a few visits and after a lot of very thorough investigation, uncovered that it led back to the source of food. 

JOHNSON:   

The investigation that uncovered lead-contaminated applesauce packets in North Carolina and across the country is featured in a new ASTHO blog article on food safety policy, North Carolina Public Health Director and ASTHO member, Dr. Susan Kansagra, says even though the initial investigation didn't provide any clues, the inspector kept digging. 

KANSAGRA:   

Then they went into even the child's daycare setting to see if there was any exposure there. They talked to the parents who were then also got themselves tested to see if they were being exposed and when their lead wasn't elevated and came back to, "Oh, is there a possible food source that the children are exposed to, and the rest of the family isn't?"  

JOHNSON:   

As soon as the state public health lab confirmed the applesauce was contaminated, Kansagra says the public was notified. 

KANSAGRA:   

We put out our own information both to the public as well as to other childcare providers to the health care provider community. To make sure folks were aware of this and to discard the product if it was on the shelf.  

JOHNSON:   

The new ASTHO blog article summarizes food safety and lead contamination policy actions, you can read it using the link in the show notes. 

A new toolkit is available to help you deal with misinformation. It's written by a team at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. This is Dr. Tara Kirk Sell. 

TARA KIRK SELL:   

So, it really takes this hands on approach and brings together a lot of the different resources that are out there, kind of scattered in this field and put them together in a way that's really accessible and straightforward. And something that you know, if you're a one person public health communications department, this is something that you can use, it's not, you know, designed to just be something that you know, people with a lot of resources can use.  

JOHNSON:   

The document outlines a process for managing misinformation, and tells you how to prepare for online rumors.  

SELL: 

You can connect with communities and build those partnerships, which is such an important activity but doesn't happen, in just in time, you can ensure that you know your audience and know what kind of messages they might be vulnerable to. You can set up like social listening, so you know, what rumors are emerging, or, you know, be ready to answer and fill those information voids before that misinformation can flourish.  

JOHNSON: 

Sell adds, the guide has something for every communicator trying to manage these concerns. 

SELL: 

I hope that they take out the pieces that apply to them that they see work the best in their communities, and sort of that it helps them make decisions about what they need to do. 

JOHNSON:   

The CDC supported development of the guide, you can download it using the link in the show notes.  

Also today, food security and good nutrition can lead to better mental health. ASTHO writes about federal policies and Medicaid options that together address hunger and promote wellness. Learn more by clicking the link in the show notes.  

Finally, this morning, stay connected to policy proposals in Congress and state capitals from coast to coast. When you sign up for ASTHO'S Legislative Alert emails. There's a link to join the list in the show notes.  

Before we go a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player and connect with ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.  

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.