In today's health-conscious world, parents are paying closer attention to the foods they pack for their own lunches and for their kids. Yet even the most nutritious brown bag is not always prepared to withstand the lunch box bug – commonly known as food poisoning.
According to a national consumer survey conducted by the American Dietetic Association and ConAgra Foods Foundation, most people fail to practice proper food safety habits when packing lunches in the morning. For example, only 31 percent always equip lunches with icepacks to help safeguard popular – and perishable – food items like deli-style sandwiches, dairy-based dips and dressings, cheese snacks, yogurt, or milk.
Use Ice Packs
Include a frozen icepack in your lunch box, suggests Carolyn O'Neil, registered dietitian and national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association Food Safety program. "A frozen, individual juice box also can help serve as a cold pack."
If you have limited access to a refrigerator, and your lunch sits in your desk or in a locker (as in the case of school lunches), you increase your risk for foodborne illness.
As a general rule, foods should not sit out unrefrigerated for more than two hours," O'Neil said. "In hot weather, 90 degrees F or above, this time is reduced to one hour."
Invest in a well-insulated bag, container, or lunchbox and clean it every day. When using paper bags, double bag your lunch. Throw away all perishable items after lunch. Save only shelf-stable items for snacks later. |
