The holidays are a joyful time to spend with family + friends, while also celebrating with great food. When you are visiting other homes or having guests at your own home and cooking for them, it’s important to keep food safety in mind for your little ones. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following tips to keep your family safe + healthy during the season:
- Teach your children to practice good hand hygiene before cooking, and lead by example.
- Fully cook meats + poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables + fruits.
- Never leave foods at room temperature for longer than two hours if they require refrigeration– like eggs, cheese, + sliced tomatoes.
- Keep hot foods + liquids away from the edges of counters + tables. Also– turn pot handles toward the side or back of the stove when cooking.
- After a party, clean up right away. A toddler could awake early and ingest spoiled leftovers, alcohol, and/or tobacco.
For more holiday food safety tips, visit healthychildren.org
This content was created in partnership with MUSC Health.
