Did you know that your child can get food poisoning from food that has been in contact with the inside of their lunch box?
To avoid foodborne odors and possible food poisoning, it is important that lunch bags or boxes are routinely cleaned.
Ideally, clean a children’s lunch box with a damp cloth that has been added a little antibacterial soap. The children’s lunch box must be rinsed and dried completely. If your child’s lunch box can withstand regular washing and rinsing, it should be done every day and allowed to drip dry. Never zip or put the lid back on a children’s lunch box that is not completely dry.
Counter surfaces where prep work takes place should be cleaned before taking out any of your ingredients or wrap / container supplies. Also, you should wash your hands and all utensils well.
To protect your child from the threat of food poisoning, consider freezing sandwiches ahead of time or packing a frozen / partially frozen drink or ice pack in your child’s lunch box. Most school lunches are allowed to sit at room temperature for about four hours. Frozen sandwiches, even in insulated bags, will defrost during this time, giving your child a fresh sandwich for lunch.
The freshness of the sandwich is maintained when you use fresh ingredients and prepare and freeze quantities for no more than two weeks.
However, it is important that sandwich fillings are selected carefully as not all ingredients can be frozen safely. Good fillings include deli meats, cooked poultry and roast beef, low-fat cheese, peanut butter (and jelly), etc. Do not freeze eggs or sandwiches like tuna or salmon with mayonnaise.
Sandwiches should be wrapped securely in plastic or sealed in plastic bags without excess air. To ensure your sandwiches are used within the coolest time frame, place all similar sandwiches in the original bread bag and label with the expiration date.
