Everyone is susceptible to food borne illnesses or infections caused by harmful bacteria. However, infants and babies are part of a group that experiences an especially elevated level of risk. As their immune systems have not yet fully developed, special care needs to be taken to ensure that baby food is safe to consume.
Preserving baby food integrity
The first step in ensuring that baby food is safe to consume is being careful about the products you select. Only ever feed your child from jars where the safety button on the lid is firmly pressed down. This button ensures that the jar has remained air tight up to the point of your purchase, and has not been exposed to contamination via a faulty seal. If you choose pouches instead of jars, throw away any products that are leaking or appear bloated.
Refrain from double-dipping with baby food, as this can result in contamination just as easily as when dip bowls are shared at parties. Try to avoid feeding your baby directly from the jar, and don’t save any excess food that your child doesn’t finish. Storing leftover baby food may result in bacterial growth.
Also, remember to be careful about how you store your baby’s food. For example, it should never be left out for more than two hours at a time, and an opened container should not be sat in your refrigerator for any longer than three days. If you aren’t sure about a particular product, you may find it is safer to simply throw it away.
Always wash your hands
Childcare and health experts alike agree that one of the best things you can do to keep your child’s food free from contamination is wash your hands regularly. It’s easy for your hands to pick up germs from any manner of sources including pets, dirt and raw foods. Washing your hands frequently ensures that none of these germs are transferred into your child’s food.