Working with caregivers of infants and young children revealed the need for simple yet meaningful information about food safety. These clientele often ask the “how long” questions, which usually relate to a range of food safety queries.
- How long do I need to wash my hands?
- How long can food stay out of the refrigerator?
- How long can I keep pumped breastmilk or prepared infant formula at room temperature?
A comprehensive yet concise resource available for clientele to take home for reference was difficult to find. While there is a lot of information available from a variety of reputable sources, finding answers to the most often asked questions in one place was difficult. Additionally, misinformation, whether obtained online or from friends or family members, can create confusion about safe food handling and storage for caregivers.
Safe food handling and storage techniques are important for all individuals, but it is especially important for the very young, those with compromised immune systems, pregnant women and the elderly. Remembering the four aspects of food safety – clean, separate, cook and chill – are important behaviors for ensuring health and wellness of all, and especially infants.
Caregivers of infants and young children are busy and may feel rushed when food preparation and storage needs are at hand. Simple steps or procedures may get bypassed or forgotten in their haste to take care of other pressing matters. A new UC ANR publication, Food Safety Tips for Infant Feeding, allows clientele to access important food safety information in one place and can prevent important steps from being forgotten or overlooked.
Share this publication with infant caregivers in your communities: https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8662.pdf
