Food safety and hygiene lessons in the primary school: implications for risk-reduction behaviors.

Objective: This study describes an effective educational program to improve children's knowledge about characteristics of microorganisms and food contamination, and their personal hygiene behaviors.

Materials And Methods: Between November 2011 and March 2012, a health campaign, targeted at fifth-grade students of 12 public primary compulsory schools, was conceived. Participants were divided into two classes, a theoretical class and a practical class based on two different teaching approaches.