Teaching kids about food safety at home is essential to ensure their well-being and prevent any potential health issues. Here are some important practices to follow:
1. Handwashing: Teach kids to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before handling food, especially after using the bathroom, touching pets, or playing outside.
2. Clean surfaces: Teach children to clean food preparation surfaces, such as cutting boards and countertops, before and after use. This helps prevent the cross-contamination of different food items.
3. Proper food storage: Explain to children the importance of storing perishable foods, like raw meats, dairy, and leftovers, in the refrigerator at or below 4°C (40°F) to prevent bacterial growth. Also, educate them about using freezer-safe containers for long-term storage.
4. Temperature control: Teach kids about the safe cooking temperatures for different types of foods. For example, make sure they know that poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) and ground meats to 71°C (160°F).
5. Avoiding cross-contamination: Educate kids about the importance of keeping raw and cooked foods separate to prevent cross-contamination. This includes using separate cutting boards and utensils for raw and cooked food.
6. Safe handling of food: Teach children to handle food with clean hands and utensils, avoiding direct contact when necessary. Discourage them from tasting food with their fingers while cooking.
7. Safe tasting practices: Educate children about safe tasting practices. Encourage them to use a clean spoon or separate utensil rather than directly tasting from the dish to avoid contamination.
8. Hygienic storage of leftovers: Teach kids to store leftovers in airtight containers and refrigerate them within two hours of cooking. Explain the significance of consuming refrigerated leftovers within a few days to prevent bacterial growth.
9. Avoiding expired products: Teach children to read and understand the labels on food packaging. Instill in them the habit of checking expiry dates and discarding any expired or spoiled items.
10. Educate about food recalls: Teach children to recognize food recall notices and avoid consuming or using recalled products. Explain the importance of taking such notices seriously and following the instructions provided.
Remember to make learning about food safety fun and interactive for kids. Engage them in activities like washing fruits and vegetables together or teaching them how to properly store food in the refrigerator.
Monique Cupido
