Food safety guidance for older adults.

Aging is associated with loss of the physical barriers and immune efficiency that typically control pathogens' access to and multiplication within the body, thus making infection more likely in elderly persons. Chronic diseases and other health factors, such as malnutrition and immobility, may increase susceptibility to and severity of infections, including foodborne illnesses, in elderly persons, as well as associated morbidity and mortality. Prevention is the best way to avoid foodborne illnesses, but older adults have long-established food preparation and handling practices, some of which may increase the likelihood of illness.

Awareness and acceptance of current food safety recommendations during pregnancy.

Objectives: To better understand pregnant women's food safety attitudes and beliefs that affect food selection, preparation and handling behaviors, sources of food safety information, motivators and barriers to adopting current recommendations, and preferences for receiving food safety materials.

Methods: Eleven focus groups were conducted with 69 women (57 pregnant and 12 less than 6 months postpartum). The Health Belief Model guided development of the moderator's guide.