How to Talk to Children About Food Safety

In this modern world, where processed food and takeaway meals are becoming an everyday norm for many families, it’s important to teach children about food safety. Equipping them with food safety knowledge as early as possible will help them to become health-conscious and food-safety-savvy adults. But how can you talk to children about food safety? Let’s take a look:

Relate Food Safety to Real-Life Scenarios

To make the subject matter more relatable, provide real-life examples. For example, discussing events like the Taylor Farms recall can be a great starting point. In this case, the manufacturer identified a potential issue in their supply chain and pulled packaged salads to protect the public, just in case. This case is good for reassuring kids that food producers in the USA are required to maintain high standards of food safety and have a duty to keep their food healthy and safe for the public. 

Highlight the Importance of Hand Hygiene

Proper hand hygiene is central to food safety. Make sure to explain that germs on dirty hands can transfer to food, potentially causing illness. Discuss the importance of washing hands before cooking, after going to the toilet, after playing outside, and before eating – including eating school meals and snacks. Using warm water and soap, rubbing hands together, scrubbing between the fingers and under the nails for at least 20 seconds, are necessary steps that should be part of the conversation.

Discuss Cooking and Food Preparation Safety

Children are often eager to help in the kitchen. Seize this opportunity to teach them about proper food preparation, including washing fruits and vegetables before eating, and using separate cutting boards for raw and cooked foods. Explain that fully cooking meals, particularly meat and poultry, is critical to kill any lingering bacteria.

Understanding Product Labels

Teach your child to read and comprehend food labels. Explain how “use-by” and “best before” dates help to ascertain the freshness and safety of packaged food items. Highlight the importance of refrigeration for certain food items, as indicated on package instructions, and explain how ignoring these guidelines can lead to spoilage and possible illness.

Store Foods Safely

The way food is stored also plays a significant role in its safety. Educate your children about the importance of refrigerating perishable items promptly and not leaving cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Explain why raw meat, poultry, and seafood should be stored at the bottom of the refrigerator to prevent drips that could contaminate other food.

Turn It Into a Game

Remember that children learn best when they’re having fun. Make food safety a game. You can create quizzes or flashcards about food safety rules and fair food handling practices. You could even involve them in cooking a meal, incorporating safety measures along the way, turning it into an enjoyable and instructional experience.

Conclusion

Teaching children about food safety might seem daunting at first, but with a systematic approach, real-life examples, and fun learning, it becomes easy and impactful. If you start teaching these principles at a young age, it will become second nature for the kids, ensuring they grow into adults who understand and appreciate the dynamics of food safety.