Chilled Food Association launches educational websites to bridge skills gap 12 Sep 2011

The Chilled Food Association (CFA), in partnership with the Design and Technology Association, have created a set of educational resources aimed at promoting food science and technology among primary and secondary school students.

‘Chilled Education’ teaching material is available online beginning Monday, September 12 at www.data.org.uk/cfa. This material, developed by teachers and industry specialists, includes a comprehensive set of free lesson plans and resources, designed to make lessons lively and informative. CFA is also providing 10,000 fridge thermometers and 500 innovative Glo-Germ kits for a more hands-on approach to learning.

CFA has also created an accompanying site, www.chillededucation.org, which contains career information, including interviews with recent graduates working in the chilled food sector.

The food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK. According to Kaarin Goodburn, CFA Secretary General, the chilled food industry is the UK’s fastest growing retail sector. ‘Chilled Education’ addresses the need to promote food technology in schools at a time when the subject is being weeded out of the National Curriculum. The aim is to boost industry recruitment by inspiring the future generation of food professionals.