Food Safety has always been important, especially here and now in Jefferson County with the outbreak of Hepatitis A. According to the www.louisvilleky.gov website:

“There is a hepatitis A outbreak in Louisville.  The outbreak was declared in November of 2017.  As of June 22, 2018, there have been 478 cases and 3 deaths associated with this outbreak.”  

A rehabilitation program for men in Jefferson County participated in the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program through the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service. The program: Eating Healthy for Everybody was offered and one of the lessons taught was Food Safety for Everybody. 

The SNAP-Education Assistant demonstrated proper hand washing to the members in the group. The Assistant also informed the group of proper methods for cleaning cooking equipment; washing fruits and vegetables; the proper handling of perishable foods; the danger zones of food; and how to use a cooking thermometer. The SNAP-Education Assistant prepared Garlic Pork for the group to sample and asked questions about the proper way of preparing the dish.

The ten members of the group graduated the program and achieved a 70% positive change in food safety practices.