The Partnership for Food Safety Education was formed in 1997 as a response to an independent panel report, "Putting the Food Handling Issue on the Table: The Pressing Need for Food Safety Education," which called for a public-private partnership to educate the public about safe food handling and preparation.

The Partnership was formally created with a Memorandum of Understanding signed on May 12, 1997, by the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Education, together with leaders of food trade associations, consumer and public health organizations, and the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

The Partnership is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. The Partnership's members represent the country's leading food industry associations, commodity groups and professional associations in the food sciences, health and nutrition.