Millions of people become sick each year from unsafe food. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Foodborne illness is often mistaken for the 24-hour flu, but serious illness and death can occur as a result of improper handling of food. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23% of the reported foodborne illnesses occurring between 1993 and 1997 resulted from improper handling of food in the home. Young children in particular are at risk since their immune systems are not fully developed.

Many parents are still at work when their children arrive home afterschool. To ensure food safety when children prepare their own afterschool snack, help your children establish proper food safety habits.

Safety Tips

• Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before making or eating a snack or meal, after playing with pets and after using the bathroom.
  
  
• Prepare fruits and vegetables by washing with cold, running water. If desired, cut into bite-size pieces. Keep ready-to-eat raw vegetables and fruit handy in a clear container in the front of your refrigerator for snacks or meals-on-the-go.
  
  
• To keep countertops clean, place backpacks on the floor, not the counter.
  
  
• Clean countertops before and after preparing food. Use hot, soapy water and paper towels or clean cloths to wipe up kitchen surfaces or spills.
  
  
• Return cold foods such as milk, yogurt, lunchmeat and eggs to the refrigerator immediately after use.
  
  
• Children should not use knives or other sharp utensils without an adult’s permission and supervision.
  
  
• Restrict use of a microwave oven to children who can read so that package instructions can be followed accurately. In addition, to use the microwave safely a child should be tall enough to reach the microwave oven without reaching up. If your child meets these criteria, then make sure he follows the safety rules listed in the box to the left.

Teach Children Safe Microwave Use

• Read and follow all microwave instructions on the food package. • Use microwave-safe utensils which includes glass and those labeled for microwave use. • Always have food in the microwave oven before turning it on. Stay in the kitchen while the food is being cooked. Sometimes 20 minutes is mistakenly keyed instead of 2 minutes. • Use potholders and choose a dish that has adequate room to avoid spillage of hot food or liquid as the item is removed. • Be careful when opening a bag of popcorn that has been cooked. To avoid steam burns keep the bag opening turned away from the face and hands. Let the bag sit a few minutes to allow steam to be released. • Allow hot, cooked foods such as hot dogs, jelly donuts and fruit pastries to sit a few minutes before tasting. Because microwave ovens tend to heat unevenly, hot spots may exist. Stir foods such as soup to distribute the heat more evenly before tasting. Being a good food safety role model is one of the best ways to teach children safe food handling habits. Make sure your child sees the adults in the family modeling safe food practices.