For National Food Safety Education month in September 2013, the Partnership for Food Safety Education, of which the National Chicken Council is a member, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration helps parents get the facts behind some common myths about things kids do and eat with Kids’ Home Food Safety Mythbusters. Here are two examples:
MYTH: When kids cook it is usually “heat and eat” snacks and foods in the microwave. They don’t have to worry about food safety – the microwaves kill the germs!
FACT: Microwaves are not magic!
It is the heat the microwaves generate that kills the germs! Food cooked in a microwave needs to be heated to a safe internal temperature. Microwaves often heat food unevenly, leaving cold spots in food where germs can survive. Kids can use microwaves properly by carefully following package instructions. Even simple “heat and eat” snacks come with instructions that need to be followed to ensure a safe product. Use a food thermometer if the instructions tell you to!
MYTH: When kids wash their hands, just putting their hands under running water is enough to get the germs off.
FACT: Rubbing hands with water and soap is the best way to go!
Water is just part of what you need for clean hands! Washing hands properly is a great way to reduce the risk of food poisoning. Here’s how:
Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap. Rub them together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails. Continue rubbing for at least 20 seconds. Sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice to time yourself! Rinse hands well under running water. Dry your hands using a clean towel, paper towel, or an air dryer.
The CDC has estimated that kids under 4 years old are 4.5 times more likely to acquire bacterial infections from food compared to adults between 20 and 49 years old. These myths draw attention to easily avoidable actions that could reduce a child’s risk of food poisoning.
For more information, more myths and free downloadable materials, visit www.fightbac.org/kids
