Chinwendu Ilonzo, a USF College of Public Health MPH student, has recently begun a 6-month evaluation fellowship with the nonprofit food safety organization Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE). 

The PFSE partners with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), other federal agencies and private entities to develop and disseminate science-based, consumer-directed messages promoting safe food handling practices. The group is the mastermind behind the Fight BAC! (fight bacteria) campaign.

Ilonzo said it was her introductory public health classes that first got her interested in food safety, an interest that eventually led to her applying for the fellowship.

“Nutrition is an area of growing interest [for me], especially after I learned more about the adult and childhood obesity epidemic in my courses,” Ilonzo said. “Food safety plays a large role in the ability to eat healthy foods. It forces you to look at social determinants of health and what resources may be available to a person—for example, properly working refrigerators, close supermarkets, available quality produce, etc.”

As an evaluation fellow, Ilonzo is tasked with executing need-based assessments, conducting program evaluations and reporting on metrics that ultimately advance the Partnership’s mission in preventing foodborne illnesses. She develops survey and focus group questions, decides on incentives for participants and then analyzes and disseminates results. With data in hand, she creates an official report and action plan for the Partnership in supporting food safety educators.

“Since I am the only evaluation fellow, it’s been interesting being the main person to develop the deliverables, Ilonzo commented. “Of course, I have guidance from my supervisors and get input from the team, but they do rely on me to use my knowledge and skills to propel them forward, which is exciting but a different kind of responsibility. The PFSE is also a completely virtual organization, which I also find interesting. There’s a physical address for mail, but the Partnership itself runs completely virtually, and it’s been that way even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, the most important thing I’ve been learning is to build relationships with the team and ask questions!”

Ilonzo, who’s concentrating in both epidemiology and maternal and child health, said food safety should be a concern of everyone, not only public health officials.

“Food safety education is not just for educators, public health professionals, chefs, or nutritionists/dieticians,” she said. “It’s for anyone who buys, eats, or cooks food. It is important to be proactive in preventing foodborne illnesses, and I believe [we all] would benefit from being involved.”

Story by Donna Campisano for USF College of Public Health