The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year 48 million peopleget sick from foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.

The UK Cooperative Extension Service SNAP-Ed Assistant partnered with Just FamilyAdult Daycare to educate their participants on the importance of proper food safety techniques in the kitchen. Upon entry only 40% of the participants were washing their hands before preparing food and cleaning kitchen surfaces after cutting raw meats. Using the Healthy Choices for Every Body Curriculum the participants learned How to thaw foods safely, use a meat thermometer, How to make their own sanitizing solution for cleaning kitchen surfaces and how to wash their hands properly.

When exiting the program 100% of participants showed improvement in one or more food safety practices such as washing hands before preparing food, washing all surfaces and items after cutting raw meats, not thawing frozen foods at room temperature orusing a meat thermometer. One participant stated ”after participating in your program I have learned that following food safety measures is the number one key to keeping me and my family safe from foodborne illness”.