Food safety education is one of many subjects that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program emphasizes. While it is a suitable topic for all ages to learn, food safety education is particularly important for growing children. Kids do not automatically know how to be safe in the kitchen; they have to be taught. Practicing food safety ensures that we all grow to be healthy and safe.

This summer, the Floyd County Cooperative Extension Office Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program partnered with Betsy Layne Elementary and May Valley Elementary for nutrition education classes. This included youth from all grades, up to middle school. During this time, food safety was one of the focused lessons. Proper hygiene and handwashing were emphasized with the participants. 

One of the tools implemented with the youth was “Glo Germ”. Glo Germ is an excellent product that safely demonstrates how germs are spread. The clear, liquid Glo Germ was applied to each child’s hands. They were instructed to lather it in and sit patiently. After that was done, the liquid “germs” that they had just applied to their hands were revealed under a UV light flashlight. They were incredibly shocked to see all that was on their hands. This activity really helped them to understand the importance of handwashing, especially before handling food. After implementing that lesson, 67% of the youth participants directly improved their safe food handling practices!