Tulare County

You've probably seen the T-shirts that read: "If I'd known how much fun it is to have grandchildren, I would have had them first." Well, it is fun when grandchildren come to visit, or if you regularly lend a hand with their care. But as you know, the care and feeding of grandchildren is also a major responsibility. Many of the feeding practices grandparents probably used with their own children are no longer recommended for today's infants and toddlers. So let's take a look at the food safety implications of feeding special new person in your life.

1. Keep It Clean. Always begin formula and food preparation by washing your hands. According to a Penn State University study of mothers with infants less than 4 months old, 32% said they don't wash their hands after changing their baby's diaper; about 15% said they don't wash their hands after they went to the bathroom; about 10% don't wash their hands after handling raw meat; about 41% don't wash their hands after petting animals; and about 5% didn't wash their hands after gardening or working with soil.

   Not washing your hands could result in infant diarrhea because bacteria can grow on diapers; in your feces and urine; in raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs; on animals like dogs, cats, turtles, snakes and birds; and in soil and water.

2. Handle Baby's Food Safely. Harmful bacteria from a baby's mouth can be introduced into food or bottles where it can grow and multiply even after refrigeration and reheating. If the baby does not finish a bottle, do not put it back in the refrigerator for another time. Likewise, do not feed a baby from a jar of baby food and put it back in the refrigerator for another time. Saliva on the spoon contaminates the remaining food. Instead of feeding from the jar, place some of the food in a bowl or dish. Perishable items like milk, formula or food left out of the refrigerator or without a cold source for more than 2 hours should not be used.

Storage Guidelines:

A. Opened or freshly made strained fruits and vegetables can be kept in the refrigerator 2 to 3 days or freezer 6 to 8 months.

B. Strained meats, eggs, and meat/vegetable combinations should be refrigerated for 1 day or frozen 1 to 2 months.

C. Homemade baby foods require eating in 1 to 2 days or freezing 3 to 4 months.

Source: December 2, 1999 - Safety Alerts. FDA/Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in cooperation with the American Association of Retired Persons http://www.safetyalerts.com/t/g/gp-fs.htm