The Cayman Islands Department of Environmental Health is urging parents to follow safety rules when packing school lunches for their children.
“It is important to keep our children safe from food-borne illness by following the recommended safety guidelines,” said, Department of Environmental Health Senior Food Safety Officer Gideon Simms.
The department advises parents to pack lunch in the morning, not the night before, and make sure that cold foods are cold before packing them in a lunch box. It also advises that insulated lunch boxes are the best way to keep food at a safe temperature until it’s time to eat.
Sandwiches made with refrigerated items such as luncheon meats, cheese and tuna salad should be carried in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack. This will keep the sandwiches safe to eat.
Keep hot foods hot, like soups, stews or chilies. In the morning, bring food to a boil and then pour it into a hot, clean vacuum bottle. Disinfect the vacuum bottle with boiling water.
There are also some important steps parents should take in the home to ensure food safety.
After making lunch, make sure to return perishable foods, like cheese, deli meats and mayonnaise, to your refrigerator promptly.
Parents should also pass on some tips to their children about how to stay safe and well in school, by instructing them to store their lunch boxes in a cool place, out of direct sunlight; to place dairy products such as milk and yoghurt into a refrigerator; to always wash their hands before eating; never to eat food that has a funny taste or smell; and to use food within their recommended “use-by” dates.
For more information on food safety, contact 949-6696.
“It is important to keep our children safe from food-borne illness by following the recommended safety guidelines.” Gideon Simms, senior food safety officer, Department of Environmental Health
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