Date of Award
8-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Committee Member
Julie K. Northcutt, Committee Chair
Committee Member
Michelle Parisi
Committee Member
Rose Martinez-Dawson
Committee Member
Paul Dawson
Abstract
According to the USDA, food insecurity or the inadequate access to a sufficient amount of nutritious food, affects over 12.3 percent of the U.S. population including more than 680,000 South Carolinians (USDA, 2017a). These individuals find some relief from food banks and food pantries that provide meals, groceries and services to individuals experiencing hunger, poverty, food insecurity and inadequate nutritional intake. Because food banks and pantries operate on limited budgets, they rely heavily on volunteers to perform numerous activities such as handling, sorting and distributing food. For this reason, food safety education of volunteers is critical in minimizing foodborne illness among food bank and pantry clients. Nutrition education is less prevalent among volunteers at food banks and pantries, but it is emerging as a successful intervention for improving client health and food insecurity. A study was conducted to determine the nutrition and food safety literacy among supervisors and volunteers working in food banks and pantries in South Carolina. A survey of food pantry supervisors was administered to characterize South Carolina food pantries and to identify gaps in nutrition and food safety knowledge. Survey information was then used to create a series of food safety and nutrition education modules for food pantry volunteers. Pre and post-test scores of volunteers completing the modules were used to improve modules and determine knowledge retention.
Recommended Citation
Harvey, Catherine Elizabeth, "Nutrition and Food Safety Literacy Status Among Food Pantry Supervisors and Volunteers in South Carolina" (2019). All Theses. 3180.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/3180