The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that one in six Americans get sick from contaminated foods or beverages each year and 3,000 die. The Clay County Cooperative Extension Service Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education assistant for SNAP eligible individuals partnered with Manchester Heights to provide the Healthy Choice program to their senior citizen residents. The Healthy Choices curriculum teaches participants to make healthier food choices how to keep their food safe. 

The group of diverse senior citizen made a 25% change in washing their hands before preparing food, 25% change in cleaning item/surfaces after coming in contact with raw meat or seafood. Also, 75% improved on thawing out frozen food practices.  One participant stated “that’s the way mom done it and that is the way I have always done it” in reference to thawing frozen foods by laying them on the counter in the kitchen.