You Asked It!

Don’t Flunk Food Safety!

school lunch
Have kids help plan school lunches!
Photo: USDA Flickr

School is about to get started again! Plan now if your kids are taking their lunch to school or eating the lunch provided. Here are some tips for packing a food safe lunch.

  • Use an insulated container or lunch box to keep food safe until lunchtime. Use ice packs, frozen bottles of water or frozen juice boxes to help keep food cold.
  • If packing hot foods, use a separate insulated container. Fill it with boiling water to get it heated before added hot food.
  • Check with the school if a refrigerator is available to store cold lunches.
  • Choose foods that are safe at room temperature such as whole or dried fruits, single serve fruit cups, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, hard cheese like cheddar, whole grain crackers, peanut butter (be mindful of food allergies!), or dried meat jerky.
  • Don’t forget to wash your hands!

Learn more at www.fsis.usda.gov/news-events/news-press-releases/dont-flunk-food-safety-school-year

 

About Karen Blakeslee

The Rapid Response Center was formed in 1995 as a resource for Kansas State University Research & Extension Agents. Resource topics included Food Science, Human Nutrition, Food Service, Textiles, Home Care and other consumer topics. Since that time, the Center has grown to be of valuable assistance to Kansas State University Extension Specialists in those areas.