Health and Well-Being-Keep bacteria out of lunchboxes!
Health and Well-Being-Keep bacteria out of lunchboxes!
Parents who do their food safety homework can protect their children's brown-bag lunches from hungry bacteria.
"Bacteria love school-room temperatures, which allow them to multiply quickly when there's also a source of food and moisture," says Debbie Demory-Luce, PhD, a registered dietitian with the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
To keep harmful bacteria at bay, she offers the following suggestions:
Before school begins:
• Add well-insulated lunchboxes or bags, insulated bottles for hot and cold foods, and several days' supply of freezer gel pack to your school shopping list.
• Stock up on shelf-stable foods, such as canned fruit or puddings with pop-top lids, peanut butter, crackers, fresh fruit, bottled water, single-serve packets of mayonnaise, and boxes of 100% fruit juice. Disposable silverware and individual hand wipes are also a good idea.
• Wash hands, food preparation surfaces, and utensils with hot soapy water before making lunchbox fare. Wash raw fruit and vegetables thoroughly.
• Avoid using mayonnaise or mayonnaise-type dressings as a spread or salad base if the lunch can't be refrigerated. Handle all perishable foods with care.
• Prepare the meals the evening before and store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Tightly wrap cold foods in waterproof plastic and pack around a frozen ice pack or juice box.
• Preheat or prechill insulated bottles to maximize the protection they provide.
At school:
• Store lunchboxes and bags out of direct sunlight and away from radiators.
• Discard leftovers. Gel packs and insulated containers won't keep foods safe all day.
After school:
• Wash lunchboxes, gel packs, and insulated bags with hot, soapy water and air-dry. Using a little baking soda helps control food odors. Return gel packs to the freezer.
Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.