Weekly Tip

Lunchbox Safety: Preventing Foodborne Illness

The school year has begun and it’s back to the routine of packing lunches to keep your kids going strong throughout the day. When planning homemade lunches, it’s important to make food safety a priority and keep foodborne illness from striking.

Remember the following food safety tips as you’re packing those midday meals:

• Always wash your hands before packing. Encourage kids to wash before eating by including a disposable antibacterial wipe in lunch boxes or bags.
• Use a gel pack or frozen drink to keep food cold inside insulated lunch bag (but remember, gel packs are usually only good for a few hours.) If using brown paper bags, refrigerate as soon as possible.
• Use a thermos to keep drinks cold or to keep soups hot. Do not pack milk or cream base soups.
• Cover and separate foods with plastic bags or containers to prevent contamination.
• Fresh fruits and veggies travel well, and are good for you, too – but be sure to wash them thoroughly before packing!
• Wash out lunchbox or bag every night and use baking powder and water once a week to eliminate odors.
• If you pack lunch the night before, make sure all perishable items are put back into the fridge until morning.
  
• Throw away any leftovers remaining in lunch boxes. Don’t save them for the next day.