2016 for the FMI Foundation Was All About Family Meals and Food Safety

<p>By: Sue Borra, Chief Health and Wellness Officer for FMI and Executive Director of the FMI Foundation<br /> <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/national-family-meals-month-in-store-in-2016.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="National Family Meals Month In Store in 2016" title="National Family Meals Month In Store in 2016" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /></p> <p>In 2016, the <a href="http://www.fmi.org/foundation">FMI Foundation</a> made huge strides to help Americans eat one more family meal at home each week. September, <a href="http://www.fmi.org/family-meals">National Family Meals Month&trade;</a> transitioned from a social media campaign to a living, breathing campaign alive in stores, on TV, on the radio, and in print and digital advertising. Some of the top examples are:</p> <ul> <li>National Family Meals Month&trade; featured on billboard in New York City Times Square</li> <li><a href="https://vimeo.com/180926508">National Family Meals Month&trade; PSA</a> featured on Litton&rsquo;s Weekend Adventure on ABC Television</li> <li>Retail Dietitians were featured in TV news segments&mdash;here is an example from <a href="http://www.10tv.com/article/family-meals-month">Kroger&rsquo;s Little Clinic</a></li> </ul> <p><img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/nfmm-in-time-square.tmb-small.png?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="NFMM in Time Square" title="NFMM in Time Square" style="float: left; margin: 10px;" />Fifty-six retailers, 15 suppliers and 36 allied organizations promoted family meals in September. Each group personalized their extraordinary efforts in unique ways including meal kits, in-store cooking classes, photo contests, community partnerships and more. The best National Family Meal Month&trade; campaigns will be recognized with <a href="http://www.fmi.org/family-meals/be-recognized/gold-plate-award">Gold Plate Awards</a> in January. To inspire creativity for additional 2017 National Family Meals Month&trade; activities, the FMI Foundation has produced <a href="http://www.fmi.org/family-meals/get-resources/toolkit/family-meals-toolkit-elements/">retailer and supplier toolkits</a> that are full of ideas to implement next year. </p> <p>In addition to adding more pizazz to National Family Meals Month&trade;, the FMI Foundation has completely redesigned the annual fundraising activity to highlight family meals. The brand new event called <a href="http://www.fmi.org/stir-it-up-home"><strong><em>Stir It Up!</em></strong></a> is an exciting, friendly, and fun cooking challenge that will provide retail and supplier sponsors the opportunity to showcase their culinary artistry and win awards honoring Family Meals &ndash; Healthiest, Easiest, Tastiest, Most Affordable, and Best Culinary Adventure. We know food retail executives can take the heat in the boardroom, but can they cut it in the kitchen? <a href="http://www.fmi.org/stir-it-up-home">Find out in January</a>! </p> <p>In 2016, the funds raised by the Foundation were used to award ten <a href="http://www.fmi.org/foundation/scholarship">Food Safety Auditor Scholarships</a> to encourage students pursuing careers in food safety. Additionally, grants were provided to important food safety programs such as Partnership for Food Safety Education <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/">program</a> and <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/events/conference/">conference</a>, the <a href="http://ifpti.org/fellowship-program/">International Food Protection Institute&rsquo;s Applied Science, Law and Policy Fellowship</a>, <a href="http://www.ift.org/GFTC.aspx">Institute for Food Technologists Global Food Traceability Cente</a>r and the <a href="http://www.centerforproducesafety.org/">Center for Produce Safety</a>.</p> <p>These programs all reinforce the mission of the FMI Foundation to focus on research and education to address food safety, health and nutrition concerns.</p>