Food Safety: A Health Lesson for Grade 4

Properly handling and storing your food can keep kids healthy. Food that isn't cooked or washed properly can lead to food illnesses such as e.coli or food poisoning. Dedicating one day to teach kids about the dangers associated with foods is highly recommended. Most food born issues can be eliminated by just following a few simple safety steps:

1. Always wash your workspace with hot soapy water. We have a cat that often climbs up on the countertop. She can do this right after she uses the litter box and even though the counter appears clean, it really isn't. There could be many germs just waiting to cause havoc on our bodies. They could have been transferred by the cat's little paws. You also never know what flies have landed on that counter either. It is just a safe practice to wash your workspace before working with your food.
2. Use a cutting board. Clean your cutting board each time you switch items you need to cut. If you need to cut your boneless chicken in to cubes you should always scrub the cutting board before beginning to cut up your onions. This will keep the germs of one food from spreading to another.
3. Always wash your fruits and vegetables. Even if you buy your fruits and vegetables from the grocery store and they look like they have been washed, you should wash them. Too many times such items as lettuce and tomatoes have been found to carry food born illnesses and they have made people very sick. So be sure to give them a good rinse before eating them.
4. Cook your meat thoroughly. Use the following temperature guide to cook your foods to the proper temperature: Chicken should be 170 F., Ground turkey and any left overs that you plan on eathing should be 165 F., and beef should be cooked to 160 F.
5. Always refrigerate your leftovers within 2 hours. The cold will keep them from growing any harmful bacteria. Leaving them out any longer than 2 hours will make them dangerous to eat.
6. Know your egg safety. You should never eat raw eggs. Always check your egg carton before buying it to make sure there are no cracked eggs or eggs that look strange or dirty. They could possibly be infected with some bad bacteria that could make you very sick.
7. Don't thaw foods out on your countertop. This gives bacteria a chance to grow. If you need to use a frozen item you should place it in your fridge or the microwave to give it time to thaw out.

If you experience any stomach cramping, diarrhea, or vomiting after a meal you should consult a Doctor to see if you have gotten food poisoning.