Is your child’s lunchbox making them sick? It could be! According to the 2012 Lysol Back To School study, only 45% of moms clean and disinfect their child’s lunchbox every day. Leftover food crumbs and spills can harbor germs and bacteria that contaminate your child’s ready-to-eat food, potentially causing your child to get sick (as in food poisoning and diarrhea). Yuck!
It’s important to follow a few basic food preparation hygiene practices to help keep your child’s food safe and germ-free.
- Disinfect your child’s lunchbox every day and rinse with warm water.
- Wash raw fruits, vegetables and salads thoroughly before packing them in your child’s lunch.
- Prepare food fresh daily for the least chance for germs to have time to grow.
- Store prepared lunches in the refrigerator and use an ice pack or cooler to keep your child’s lunch chilled.
Don’t forget to remind your child to wash their hands regularly during the school day, especially before eating lunch.
How do you sanitize your child’s lunchbox? Do you use disposable wipes? The dishwasher? Share your tips and ideas about keeping kids lunchboxes healthy in the comments section.
For more tips on guarding against germs this back to school season, visit the Hygiene Council.
monique says
I rinse them out daily, but I need to add a cleaner. I’ll star spraying with vinegar. Thanks for the reminder.