Whether it comes in a Hello Kitty lunch bag, Spiderman lunch box, or a brown paper sack, the meal you send to school with your child must be packed with care and consideration. Kids are back in school next week, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture has some helpful hints on how to make that home-packed lunch as safe as possible. Making the lunch the night before is a good idea so that the preparer isn’t rushed into doing something improper, such as using dirty surfaces. Maintaining a proper temperature for the school lunch is very important. If your child is going to take a hot lunch to school, chances are it will be something like soup, which would probably be inside a thermos Chances are the lunch you send to school in the morning will be consumed within a few hours. Still, that’s plenty of time for bacteria to grow if the lunch is not stored properly. Once again, maintaining a proper temperature is important. Kids need to know that lunches are to be eaten at lunchtime– or not at all. Sandwiches with meat, eggs, or dairy products should be packed directly next to the cold source in the container. Finally, remind your children of the importance of handwashing before eating. Many times recess precedes lunch. Even more often, kids will need to go to the bathroom sometime before lunch. Washing hands often with soap and warm water is a great way to cut down on potential food borne illnesses. Additional food safety tips can be found at <http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/events/backtoschool>.
