|
|
Baby Food Safety
Foodborne bacteria in your little one's baby food. Oh no!
You can't see them, taste them, or even smell them, but these yucky, shifty, and annoying little critters can spread throughout your kitchen. Foodborne bacteria of course, love residing where there is food. However, they also love cutting boards, sponges, and utensils. And if your little one eats something that is tainted with these harmful bacteria, they can get a foodborne illness. So here are food safety tips that can keep these nasty critters at bay.
Wash your hands. It is best to ALWAYS wash your hands before handling food. And definitely wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets.
Wash your hands some more! Make sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap. Kids learn by example, so make sure they are washing their hands frequently as well.
Make sure there are soap and paper towels or a clean towel at every sink in your home. I prefer using paper towels to dry my hands. I know, I know. Using a lot of paper towels are not "earth friendly", but if you use select-a-size paper towels, that can help your family use less.
Sanitize your cutting boards. Washing your cutting boards with hot, soapy water is good for removing food, but bacteria can grow in the grooves and cracks. Therefore, sanitizing is an additional way to safeguard against foodborne bacteria. Store-bought kitchen sanitizers can be used. However, a more cost-effective sanitizer is to mix 1 tablespoon of bleach and a gallon of water. Let the cutting boards soak for 2 minutes, and Voila! Sanitized cutting boards. If using bleach creeps you out, then an alternative is to use vinegar. Spray undiluted vinegar on both sides of the cutting board; then let air dry.
Wash your veggies and fruits. Even the ones with peels should be washed. You can make an inexpensive veggie/fruit wash by mixing 1 cup of water, 1 cup of vinegar, and about 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract (found in health food stores or Wholefoods). Combine all the ingredients and then put the solution in a spray bottle. Then when you need to wash your produce, spray on your veggie wash and then let it stay on for about 5 minutes; then rise with water.
When preparing formula, fill the bottle for just one serving. Bacteria from your little one's mouth can get into the bottle of formula. It then can grow and multiply, even in the refrigerator!
Discard any formula or food left out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours. Bacteria love to grow and multiply in warmer temperatures.
Before feeding your little one, ALWAYS check the expiration date and safety lid. If the safety lid doesn't "pop", or is not down, it is best to throw it away. As well as throw away any expired food.
Never, ever heat baby food or formula in the microwave. Microwaves do not heat evenly. So there could be hot spots, which can burn your little one's mouth. OUCH!
Always store unused extra baby food for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator, or 3 to 6 months in the freezer.
Tip: You can make individual servings by freezing the food in ice cube trays (don't forget to cover with plastic), and then place the ice cubes in a freezer bag.
Want to know more about food borne illnesses?
Click here
for information about how we are constantly under attack by food borne illnesses.
Want to make baby food for your little one?
Click here to go to a great site about homemade baby food.
There is so much to take into consideration when feeding your little one. However, it is worth it to make sure they are safe. Here are some more information and baby food safety tips.
Avoiding Food Allergies
Infant Formula Safety 101
Wondering if your little one has a food allergy?
Peanut Allergy In A Nutshell
Dairy Substitutes For Milk Allergies
Learn about what a milk allergy is
Here is a list of the most recent food recalls
Return from Baby Food Safety Page to Home Page
|
|
