General Principles of Food Safety

September 07, 2008

SEARCH drSpock

my account | sign in

HOT TOPICS

		Pregnancy Symptoms
		Read with Your Kids -- It's Fun!
		Take Our Quizzes
		Play with Your Baby

TOPICS


	Parents are talking about their children. Join the discussion.

General Principles of Food Safety

by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D.
reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Children in daycare and preschool programs are exposed to more germs. Not all of them create a health risk but many of them do. This is especially true when talking about food.

Children are at more risk for getting a foodborne illness because their immune systems are under-developed. They are also tend to have more severe symptoms than an adult is. Since foodborne infections cause symptoms similar to those of the flu, parents are often unaware of the source of their child's illness.

Sources of Harmful Bacteria

Harmful bacteria may be in food when it comes from the store. Remember, meat, poultry, eggs and fish come from live animals. The germs that live on and in these animals often continue to exist during and after processing. Here are some key safety tips for using meats safely:

Don't allow dripping meat juices drip onto other foods. (Dripping can be a problem when you're handling the meat, or when you're thawing it in the refrigerator.)
Use a separate cutting board for meat and poultry when making a meal.
Don't let the utensils or plates used when handling the raw meat come in contact with it after it's been cooked.
Cook meats until they are cooked through: no pink or red parts. This is especially important with ground meats (hamburger).
In the oven, cook meats at a temperature above 325 degrees otherwise, the already existing bacteria will continue to grow.
Consider buying an instant read digital thermometer, they're easy to use and takes the "guess work" out of food preparation.
Defrost meats in the refrigerator, so that they don't sit for long periods of time at room temperature.

Fresh produce such as lettuce, celery, melons and sprouts also are exposed to germs in the soil, which also can linger. Although fruits and vegetables are generally safer than meats, it still makes sense to take some precautions.

Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly (except fruits with peels that you throw away, like bananas).
Don't cut them on the cutting board or let them come in contact with utensils used for raw meat.

Handwashing

When preparing your child's food wash your hands with soap and water frequently. Try to do 15 seconds of brisk rubbing with soap and water. You can count "1-1000, 2-1000" to get a sense of how long that is.

Keep hand washing in mind after handling the telephone and especially after changing diapers or wiping runny noses. Avoid preparing food for your child if you have diarrhea. This might be a good time to use a frozen meal (try to find the low-salt variety).

Child-Care Settings

If your child attends a daycare or preschool which provides food, ask what sanitary measures are used for food preparation. If it's a center-based program, the person preparing food should not be the one who is responsible for changing diapers. Diaper changing should not go on anywhere near the food preparation area.

Preschoolers can learn to wash their hands before eating, a very important way to cut down on all sorts of illness. Does the center have low sinks that children can reach comfortably? Are there little bars of soap that fit neatly into small hands (or liquid soap)? Is there a routine, always followed, that children wash before eating?


RELATED INFORMATION

			The "Division of Responsibility" in Eating
			Food Safety

Created September 16, 2000
Reviewed September 22, 2000

| |
| | |

THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information drSpock.com provides is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your health care professional if you have a specific health concern. Mention or advertisement of any product, service, or brand does not constitute endorsement, guarantee, or recommendation by The Dr. Spock Company. Please read our full Terms of Service.