K-2 Youth Learn Food Safety 

Food safety education is one of many subjects that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program emphasizes. While it is a suitable topic for all ages to learn, food safety education is particularly important for young 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 Education Program partnered with a number of different entities across the county to deliver nutrition education to youth. Forty-eight youth, collectively from May Valley Elementary, Highland Heights Housing Authority, Bright Beginnings Daycare, and Dinosaur Play Land Daycare, attended Nutrition Day Camps as well as various nutrition classes. During that time, food safety was one of the focused lessons. Proper hygiene and handwashing were emphasized with the youth. 

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 Glo Germ powder was sprinkled on the youth’s hands. Invisible to the naked eye, the “germs” were revealed under a UV light flashlight. The youth were very 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 this lesson, 88% of youth (42 of the 48) improved their safe food handling practices. From that lesson forward, the knowledge that these youth gained from the food safety lesson will be beneficial to them and help them grow to be healthy adults.