Food Safety and Your Baby 
                           

Babies - food preparation guidelines

• Be a clean cook - keep bacteria(germs) at bay by having good personal hygiene standards.
• Wipe high chairs, bibs and eating areas with an anti-bacterial cleaner before and after every meal
• Clean and disinfect food and hand contact surfaces in the kitchen.
• Store food in a fridge between 0-5 degrees centigrade and use within 48 hours
• Always follow food equipment instructions
• Change kitchen towels and kitchen cloths daily or more often if dirty
• Teach your children to wash their hands after visiting the toilet or touching pets.

Food storage tips

• Store food safely
• Control food temperatures
• Always follow instructions on cooking times and temperatures
• Throw away any uneaten foods

Tips for using ready made foods

• Check date marks - you must follow the use-by dates
• Check safety seals are intact when first opening food packaging
• Read labels and carefully follow all instructions on storage, preparation and cooking times and temperatures
• Never leave foods in open cans.

Tips for preparing food at home

• Defrost frozen ingredients thoroughly - unless stated on the labels
• Cook foods thoroughly, until piping hot, then allow to cool until comfortable to eat
• Cook eggs until white and yolk are solid, or use pasteurised egg products.

Further advice and help

• Your local community mid-wife
• Your local health visitor
• NHS Direct
• National Childbirth Trust (telephone 020 8992 8637)