Scrub Club®

The Issue at "Hand"

  • Each year, more than 164 million school days are lost due to illness, and that number could be greatly reduced with proper handwashing.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 76 million Americans get sick, more than 300,000 are hospitalized, and 5,000 people die from foodborne illnesses each year.
  • Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes to two hours or more on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs and desks.
  • According to the CDC, the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to each other is to wash our hands.

Scrub Club® to the Rescue

That's why NSF International created the Scrub Club® - to raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing and ultimately improve the health of children and reduce sick days in school. The Partnership for Food Safety Education has joined with NSF to support the Scrub Club®.

The Scrub Club® is a first of its kind program - a fun, interactive Web site (www.scrubclub.org) that teaches children the proper way to wash their hands. The site consists of a "Webisode," interactive games, and even an official handwashing theme song. Downloadable activity materials for kids, educational materials for teachers and program information for parents will also be available.

The Web site, along with the first Webisode "The Good, the BAC and the Ugly," was launched on September 19, 2004 in conjunction with National Clean Hands Week and National Food Safety Education Month. The Partnership for Food Safety Education has lent its lovable character BAC (from its Fight BAC!® public education campaign) as a partner in grime with Sal Monella in this first wild west-themed adventure.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Opportunities to sponsor future Scrub Club® initiatives are available, including:

  • Production of educational materials
  • License property
  • Content development
  • Media and promotions

For more information on becoming involved with the Scrub Club®, contact:

  • William Fisher, Vice President
    Ph: (734) 827-6824 / email: fisher@nsf.org

About NSF International

NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit organization, helps protect you by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, air and consumer goods. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting public health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment.

About The Partnership for Food Safety Education

The Partnership for Food Safety Education, a non-profit organization, unites industry associations, consumer and public health groups and the USDA, CDC, FDA and EPA to educate the public about safe food handling and preparation. The Partnership is the creator and steward of the Fight BAC!® campaign, a food safety education program developed using scientifically-based recommendations and resulting from an extensive consumer research process. Fight BAC!® materials are fully accessible online and utilized by consumers, teachers, dietitians, public health officials and extension agents across the United States (www.fightbac.org). For information on the Partnership, call (202) 220-0651.