CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 10/27/16

Wash hands well when visiting fairs, petting zoos and festivals

By Judy A. Harrison

It is the time of year for visiting pumpkin patches, fall festivals and Christmas tree farms. Many of these venues have petting zoos and sell food products – a combination that is a potential health risk if proper hand washing isn’t included.

Visiting a petting zoo can be a memorable family outing, but the facts are that petting zoos and farms can be a source of E. coli transmission. The CDC warns that “when people forget to wash their hands after petting an animal, or bring food or drinks into an area where animals are exhibited, they are at risk for becoming ill.”

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension advises parents and teachers to help keep children safe by following these recommendations from the CDC:

  • Visit hand washing stations at petting zoos, festival locations and farms.
  • Always make sure that children wash their hands right after petting animals or touching pens, cages, etc., where animals are housed.
  • Even if children do not touch the animals, they should wash their hands after exiting the animal holding areas.
  • Always wash hands before touching food or drinking, before preparing food or drinks, and after removing soiled clothing or shoes after visiting farms or petting zoos.
  • Keep food and drinks out of areas where animals are held.
  • Prepare, serve and eat food only in areas where animals are not permitted.
  • Do not eat or drink raw, unpasteurized juices, cider, milk or cheeses.
  • Constantly supervise children less than 5 years of age while in animal holding areas.
  • Do not allow children to put thumbs, fingers, pacifiers or other objects in their mouths while in the animal areas.
  • Do not take strollers, bottles, pacifiers, cups or toys into animal areas.
  • Supervise children’s hand washing.

According to the CDC, hand washing with soap and running water is best. Hands should be washed with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. Pay special attention to the area between fingers and around fingernails.

If these are unavailable, use hand sanitizers, but wash hands well as soon as a sink and soap are available.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/features/animalexhibits/.

Judy Harrison is a food safety specialist with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.

Authors:
Judy A. Harrison
Experts/Sources:
Judy A. Harrison
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension experts say washing hands after petting animals at fairs and festivals is a must. Petting zoos and farms can be a source of E. coli transmission. Reduce your risk of becoming ill by visiting hand-washing stations immediately and thoroughly washing your hands.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
Brooklyne Wassel and colleague Philip Hensley developed the Master Forager program after popular demand from residents in their counties. CAES News
Participants in UGA Extension's Master Forager program find a taste for the wild 09/19/24 Becky Mills
On an unseasonably warm winter afternoon, three women armed with baskets and shears made their way along a nature trail in the woods of Pike County, Georgia. Peering into the underbrush, they stopped occasionally to examine spots of interest in and under the trees and around fallen logs and decaying stumps. A curious observer might wonder what they were searching for with such intent — unless they overheard the trio’s conversation. 
LiceCheck CAES News
A back-to-school guide to the nitty-gritty on head lice 08/12/24 Allison Johnson
As students return to school, head lice often become a common concern for administrators and parents. Understanding how to prevent and manage head lice infestations is crucial for maintaining healthy environments in schools and at home. Allison Johnson, the Pesticide Safety Education Program coordinator for the University of Georgia, provides essential information and advice to help mitigate the spread of this pesky pest.
For some students, heading back to school feels like entering a pressure cooker. Parents can ease anxieties by helping their students develop strategies for handling stressful situations. CAES News
Families should make a plan to manage back-to-school stress 07/29/24 Merritt Melancon
As summer draws to an end, both students and parents need to prepare for the return to school. While a new backpack and a collection of notebooks and pens might top their to-do list, students also need to prepare emotionally, said Diane Bales, a human development specialist for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and a professor of human development and family science in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
20240111 NC ADT MARCM 041 CAES News
CAES student follows her zeal for food safety to UGA School of Law 07/09/24 Lillian Dickens
The career world is wide open for students at the University of Georgia, a life lesson third-year student Emily Harris learned as a food science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Harris plans to attend the UGA School of Law to pursue a degree in food regulation and law this fall, a unique path she discovered through classes in the Department of Food Science and Technology.
IdaliaDamage CAES News
UGA Extension offers disaster support throughout the state 01/03/24 Emily Cabrera
Georgia’s geographic diversity — from beaches and swamps to mountains and flatlands —makes the state an attractive place to live, but each region is vulnerable to weather-related emergencies year-round. When disasters strike, navigating the milieu of steps to recover and rebuild can be difficult. With a presence in all 159 Georgia counties, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is uniquely positioned to help communities prepare for and rebound from calamity.
DSCF0008 (1) CAES News
Advances in using blue light technology to fight foodborne illness 10/31/23 Jennifer L Reynolds
Consider your favorite breakfast cereal, granola bar or other similar food, then imagine the production facility where it is made. If you picture large machines, conveyor belts and lots of moving parts, you get the gist of the environment. Keeping all these moving parts clean is of utmost concern to manufacturers, who spend considerable time and investment on food safety, making sure their production lines are free from harmful pathogens that may make consumers sick.