Meadowdale High School teacher Kolleen Seals was one of 36 teachers nationwide chosen to complete a food science training program developed and implemented in a partnership between the Food and Drug Administration, the National Science Teachers Association and Graduate School USA. 

The one-week program for middle and high school science teachers, as well as family and consumer science and health education teachers, took place in Washington last summer. 

During the training, teacher participants learned firsthand about the development and spread of foodborne illnesses; the vulnerability of at-risk populations; and the science behind safe food handling, storage, and preparation. Teachers also learned how to better use the nutrition facts label to assess the nutritional value of foods. In addition, the teachers talked with scientists from FDA and conducted laboratory experiments to further increase their understanding of food science.