NOEMI JESAMINE M.

DUENAS HE 202
Professor: ALICE DIEL, Ed.D.
Topic: Place of Food safety Education in the Philippine K to 12 Curriculum

MY REFLECTION
FS is a significant component for sustainable development. Any
issue pertaining to FS in one country can put others at risk; this is because of the
significant impact of FS on the globalization process. Production, processing,
distribution, and marketing are the focus of the globalization process that seeks
to meet the growing demands of the global population. The lack of knowledge
and education about FS can lead to failures characterized by the existence of
physical, chemical, and biological hazards that could have mild to fatal
ramifications both locally and globally.
In the academe, FSED primarily aims to protect the food supply
from microbial, chemical, and physical hazards or from contamination that may
occur during different stages of the food supply chain. More often than not,
FSED is a part of the college-level curriculum in food microbiology class.
However, when an individual reaches adulthood, changing habits in preparing
food that have been practiced for many years becomes difficult. Therefore, the
K to 12 curriculum – especially with an emphasis on 21st-century skills such as
health and wellness literacy and public health and safety – should prioritize the
inclusion of FSED in Basic Education, particularly in High School. This is
important as there are significant people, teenage students in particular who die
of FBD annually, and food-related poisoning outbreaks as reported by Abbot et
al. (2009) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2014).
FSED is considered as an effective way of cultivating acceptable
knowledge, attitudes, and practices on food preparation and consumption
toward developing positive food handling behaviors.
Based on the study it was disclosed that there is a dearth of FS
concepts and areas in TLE that are included in the K to 12 CGs. Furthermore,
the study revealed that there only traces of basic concepts on FSED in the Junior
High School and Grades 9 and 10 CGs. Additionally, it specifically found out
that FS-related knowledge and skills are embedded in the various lessons of
TLE areas such as Bread and Pastry Production, Bartending, Cookery and etc.,
Other students who are not taking up TLE or TVL subjects are not able to learn
and be Food and safety educated. In other words, FS is not really emphasized
and given high importance in the K to 12 curriculum. It is a merely passing
lessons which many took it for granted.
 Due to this result, we can conclude that many students do not have
the proper knowledge regarding food safety and how vital it is to our daily
living. For me, this is a big threat to the safety of every individual since
foodborne diseases and food poisoning is very fatal and common nowadays.
This should be an eye opener to the curriculum maker that they should integrate
and include FSED in the CG of all subjects so that the students in whatever
track they choose, will be able to learn Food Safety. It should also be learned in
all grade levels starting from K1 to Grade 12. The school should reiterate,
emphasize and practice proper handling and sanitation of food in the school
canteen and in the food laboratory. Every student should be taught FSED and
impose to them their obligation and duty to practice and implement proper ways
of food handling and sanitation.
Teachers should properly and patiently educate the students about
FS and inculcate in their minds the importance of food safety. They should
utilize internet access and do research in order to gain additional information
and advance technology in proper handling and sanitation of food and be able to
disseminate it to the students.
FS should also be learned and practice not just in school but
especially at home. Every members of the family should know the value of food
safety and practice proper handling and sanitation of food in order for them to
eat foods safely and everyone in the family is healthy.
I must suggest that there should be a follow up research with the
same topic so that we will be able to know if there is really an improvement
regarding the recommendation that FS should be integrated in all subjects in the
curriculum so that every student will be educated about FS.
As a concerned individual we should be responsible enough to learn
about the proper ways of food handling and sanitation so that in our own way
we can contribute to the betterment of each other’s lives. We can live in this
world safe and healthy.