The Importance of Food Safety Practices for Early Kindergarten

25 March 2022

Food safety is important for any program that provides learning and experiences for kindergarten-aged children. Foodborne illness poses a serious threat to young children with immune systems that are still developing. Gower Street Kindergarten takes food safety seriously, but it is just as important for you at home. Here are a few tips to help keep your child safe when it comes to food.

 

Put Away Foods Promptly

It is important to return foods that need to be kept cold to the cold storage promptly. You should put away cold foods immediately as soon as you return home with them.

 

Start with Wholesome Food

It is important to only purchase your food from reliable sources. You should only choose the best raw fruits and vegetables. Make sure to never purchase food that is past its expiration date, that has a bulging can, or that has an open package. You should discard any food that is beginning to show signs of deterioration. Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before serving them.

 

Keep Work Surfaces and Cooking Utensils Clean

You should clean and sanitize your work surfaces immediately before and after use. This is especially true when a surface has been used to handle or prepare meat. Keeping the area clean and organized is important, too.

 

Keep Cold Foods in the refrigerator

Attention should be paid to proper food temperature. The “danger zone” for pathogens is between 5 °C and 60 °C. Food should not be allowed to remain at this temperature for more than one or two hours before returning it to the refrigerator. You should purchase a separate thermometer for any cold storage and make sure that it remains below 5 °C at all times. Any food that remains outside these ranges should be discarded and not consumed.

 

Instruct Children on Handwashing and Safety Practices

Washing your hands with soap and water before and after a meal is one of the most important safety practices that you can teach children and model in your own behaviour. You should teach children not to share food with each other. You should also teach them practices, like not returning unconsumed food to the container. It is also important to stress avoiding things like consuming food that has been dropped on the floor. Children should always be supervised when consuming food.

A few basic practices will help keep your child safe at kindergarten and home. Gower Street Kindergarten offers a programme that meets the requirements of the Victorian Early Learning and Development Framework. It is an excellent place for children to learn and grow. We offer a variety of learning experiences for three- and four-year-olds. Contact us to explore our programme and see what it has to offer your child.