Children and Food Bacteria | Home-Family-Parenting Blog

How to Reduce Food Bacteria

Although we constantly discipline our children to wash their hands before eating here are some strategies to reduce exposure of certain bacteria to your children and to limit their risk of developing an infection or food poisoning.

Hygiene and Safety

• Wash your hands before manipulating food.
• Clean the work surface with soapy water before starting to cook.
• Clean utensils and use cutting boards to cut and clean. Avoid wooden utensils.
• Use clean dishtowels to wash the working surface, cutting boards and utensils.
• Use a different utensil to take raw or cooked foods and avoid contact.
• Before opening cans and containers clean the surface and wipe dry.

Food Purchase

• Check the ?Best Before? dates of products.
• Avoid purchasing damaged foods or when the package is torn or broken. For instance; cracked eggs.
• Just before heading to the cash purchase perishable products such as meats, eggs and diary products.
• Conserve perishable food in a cooler or in refrigerated bags, if the drive from grocery to home is long and the day is hot.
• Upon returning home, refrigerate or freeze food as quickly as possible.

Preparation and Cooking of Food

• Leave marinated meats, poultry, fish and seafood in the refrigerator. Do not reuse marinades to prepare sauces unless they are boiled for at least 5 to 10 minutes.
• Cook food until the recommended internal temperature.
• Use a thermometer for accuracy.

Food Preservation

• Use airtight containers to store dry goods to protect them from humidity.
• Make sure the temperature of the refrigerator is inferior or equal to 40F (4C) and the freezer is ?0 F (-18C)
• Conserve perishable food in the appropriate compartments/drawers of the refrigerator. Do not use the refrigerator door since the temperature varies constantly.
• Never defrost prepared meals, meats, poultry, fish or seafood at room temperature. Use any of the following 4 methods instead:

1. Place the food in the refrigerator (the most safe option)
2. Under running cold water
3. Conventional oven then cook food
4. Microwave followed immediately by cooking food

• Do not refreeze food that has been already thawed.
• Preserve food in the refrigerator until consumption or cooking.
• Consume prepared foods as soon as they have been cooked.

Prepare meals together as a family creates a bond and is also a great way to spend quality time with your children. Bon appetite!

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