Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began, we welcomed a pair of food safety experts on the podcast to help us understand what was going on. Now that a few months have passed, we welcome them back to talk about how the scientific understanding of the novel coronavirus has grown and changed. We talk about the importance of handwashing, masks and other safety precautions, whether we need to sanitize our groceries upon returning home, and how K-State Research and Extension has helped support best practices for farmers markets.

Guests for this episode:

• Karen Blakeslee is the coordinator of the Rapid Response Center for K-State Food Science faculty as well as Human Nutrition faculty to answer questions about food. She is a member of the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry in the College of Agriculture and is based in Manhattan.
• Londa Nwadike, assistant professor and extension consumer food safety specialist with a unique joint appointment for Kansas State University and the University of Missouri. She works at K-State’s Olathe campus and Mizzou’s Jackson County office.

Links to Resources:

• K-State Research and Extension Food Safety and COVID-19 webpage
• K-State Food Safety Rapid Response Center
• K-State Research and Extension homepage
• K-State Research and Extension COVID-19 Resources page
• Kansas State University COVID-19 updates

The Extension Files is a product of K-State Research and Extension, which is Kansas State University’s outreach and education system. We have an office in every one of Kansas’ 105 counties.

The goal for K-State Research and Extension is to be everyday Kansans’ trusted source for relevant, unbiased research and information to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future.

In Kansas, extension agents’ expertise and deep network of connections cover a wide array of topics:

• food (from livestock and crop production to preparation and preservation)
• families and community
• 4-H youth development
• finances
• health in all stages of life
• gardening
• landscaping
• … and much more

Check out the K-State Research and Extension website to learn more. The quickest way to find us on Facebook and Twitter is to search for #KSRE.

To provide feedback about this podcast, email us at ksrenews@ksu.edu.