It is “Food Safety Awareness Month” and so I want to remind you of the most important way to prevent foodborne illness; WASH YOUR HANDS. At all stages of food preparation and clean-up it is important to keep those hands clean. Next week I will be making my annual visit to Helping Hands pre-school to share the importance of proper hand washing with over 100 three and four year olds. I have access to a Glo-Germ, complete with a black light. After tossing a ball around that has the “magic potion” on it we should be able to see exactly where the germs are hiding. So what are your hand washing habits? Do you always wash your hands with soap and warm water? Do you dry your hands on a single use towel? Do you wash your hands before, during and after handling food? Other important times to wash those hands includes: when playing with a pet, after gardening, after using the restroom and whenever you sneeze or cough into your hand.
Other food safety related programs I will be facilitating include a ServSafe workshop for food service employees. A few spots remain in this class set for Tuesday, September 15, from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. at the Extension Office Meeting Room. There is a $10 fee to cover the cost of the materials. You may call our office at 793-1910 to register for the September 15 workshop.
The following week, on September 22, Neeley Carlson, from the Hospitality and Restaurant Association will instruct an all day workshop targeting food service managers. Registration for the managers workshop is handled through Neeley’s Wichita office or on-line.    
For additional information about food safety feel free to give me a call.
Donna Krug is the Family & Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Barton County. You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu