What are safe preparation and handling practices for baby food?
* After opening, label the can or jar with the child’s name and the date and time opened. * Refrigerate unserved portions in the original can or jar. * Throw out unused baby food within 36 hours after opening. Throwing food out one day after opening is even safer. * Observe the “use-by” date for shelf storage of unopened jars of baby food. * Keep a permanent marker and masking tape in the kitchen to make labeling easy. * Serve baby food from a dish, not directly from a jar or can, to prevent contamination. Throw out the uneaten food served to the baby. The baby’s saliva, transferred from the spoon to the food, can contain harmful bacteria. From a safety point of view, babies older than 6 months and toddlers can eat almost any food that would be prepared for adults. Exceptions are related to seasoning agents. Some of the preparation practices that need to be implemented specifically for the high-risk population of babies and toddlers include: * Do not use home-canned foods because of th
