[August 19, 2011] 4AllPromos Warns Parents About Packing Safe Lunches Tweet Essex, CT, Aug 19, 2011 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) -- Just in time for back-to-school preparation, news about the safety of bag lunches is making headlines. The promotional product experts at 4AllPromos are helping prepare parents for a safe and healthy school year with an assortment of insulated lunch bags. Although, the contents of a home-packed lunch can be healthier than a lunch from the cafeteria there are some dangers associated with packing certain foods. Health officials have issued warnings this week about how to pack safe food, how to control the temperature of specific food and how to know when to discard specific items. Not only should parents be concerned about the nutritional value of a child's lunch but it is also important to be cognoscente of the shelf life of some food. Leftovers, dairy products and fruits and vegetables may need to be kept at an even temperature to ensure bacteria does not grow on the food and inside the lunch bag. Food allergies are also growing increasingly common among children. Be sure to check on any classroom allergies or school guidelines early in the school year to avoid putting other children at risk. Make sure to pack safe food. Before you handle lunch items, wash hands with soap and warm water. Be sure to avoid any cross-contamination of food when preparing items like meat, fruit or vegetables. Use a clean, sanitized countertop or cutting board to prepare food. Use clean, reusable lunch bags and be sure to wipe out any spills or debris left in the bag before packing a new lunch. To remove odors, use baking soda and a damp wash cloth and then rinse out with water. Wash any reusable water bottles on a daily basis to kill germs. Wipe excess water from the bottles after washing and leave out to dry. Finally, pack room temperature snacks first and then build sandwiches, cut up fruits and vegetables and prepare or pack dairy. That way the coldest items go in the lunch bag last and stay cooler longer. Although, children may not always have access to a refrigerator to store their lunch, there are ways to make sure food stays cool for a few hours before the designated lunch break. Bacteria is fond of temperatures between 41 and 135 degrees so it is important to keep food out of this temperature range to prohibit or slow the growth of any food borne illnesses. Remember to keep cold food cold and hot food hot if possible. Use insulated lunch bags or coolers to help seal in temperatures. Some lunch bags have separate compartments used to control temperature. To keep dairy, fresh fruits, vegetables and meat cold use a reusable ice pack. They are inexpensive and come in all shapes and sizes for your storage needs. Put ice packs in a plastic bag to prevent condensation and leaks. Frozen or cold drinks can also serve as ice packs for food. Freeze a water bottle or juice box to help keep other snacks cold. To keep hot food hot, use a Thermos or Tupperware to seal in heat and maintain temperature. Dispose of any questionable food. Unopened items such as chips, pretzels, nuts and granola bars can all be re-packed. However, dairy, leftovers, deli meat, yogurt and fresh produce should be discarded by the end of the day. Don't let food sit in unfavorable temperatures for more than two hours. Take lunch sacks out of warm cars or rooms and out of direct sunlight. It's important to teach children about choosing healthy options for lunch and it is important for parents to know how and what to pack children for lunch so that students can focus and participate in all school activities. For more information on how to keep America's children healthy and active visit LetsMove.org 4AllPromos is a leading provider of promotional products selling custom imprinted tote bags, drinkware, drawstring backpacks, earth friendly products, sticky notes, sports bottles and more for school fundraisers, tradeshow giveaways, nonprofit events and small business needs. For more information about 4AllPromos products and services call toll-free at 866-732-3386 or visit http://www.4allpromos.com ### Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/8/prweb8728075.htm PRWeb.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]