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Children 10–18 years

Teach children hygiene

Protect your family, particularly over summer months, from food borne illnesses by teaching your children simple rules of food safety.

Every year a large number of children suffer food poisoning in New Zealand caused by contaminated food. These cases can be very severe particularly in young children and the elderly who may suffer from dehydration as essential body fluids are lost through vomiting and/or diarrhoea.

Warmth is important for bacteria to grow. Most bacteria will die if heated to temperatures above 80 degrees on the inside for at least 10 minutes. Bacteria grow slowly in the refrigerator at four degrees, and remain dormant but alive in the freezer to quickly multiply once frozen food is thawed. With these facts in mind it is important to teach children safe food handling.

  • Remind children to shut the door of the fridge or freezer after use and not to put very hot foods into the fridge. Allow hot foods to cool, covered on the bench first
  • Encourage children to wipe up spills, not only to prevent accidents but also to reduce bacterial growth.
  • Children often like to prepare a snack and then walk away from the mess inviting food spoilage. Teach children to clean up after themselves.
  • If your child likes to cook or reheat food in the microwave, explain the importance of heating food quickly and right through. Let fresh food stand if it has been microwaved, ensuring that the middle gets up to 70 degrees. Reheat food only once and throw away reheated food that is not used.
  • Bacteria grow on utensils such as pots, pans, egg beaters, fish slices and graters. Remind children of this if they are helping wash the dishes as food left behind will contaminate their next meal.
  • Children helping to set the table should be shown to handle cutlery by the handle, plates by the rims and that any cutlery dropped should be washed before reuse.
  • Teach children the importance of washing their hands (particularly after using the toilet), when handling raw food, and after touching rubbish or rubbish bins, blowing noses, licking fingers and touching animals or money.

Keeping food safe this summer will not only save your family food dollars but also may prevent the misery of food borne illness.

About the author View all

Lea Stening

Lea is one of New Zealand’s leading paediatric dietitians and also specialises in Sports Nutrition. She has specialised in Paediatric Nutrition for 31 years and in 1985 was the first paediatric dietitian to enter private practice in New Zealand. Lea helps families through her private consultations, public lectures, newspaper and magazine articles as well as television and radio interviews. Read more »

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