‘High risk foods’ in lunch boxes such as ham sandwiches and cheese must be handled properly
THIS humble staple of the playground could be the most dangerous thing in your child’s lunch box this summer with high temperatures spawning breeding grounds for bacteria.
NSW
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THE humble ham sandwich could be the most dangerous thing in your child’s lunch box this summer with high temperatures spawning breeding grounds for bacteria.
Parents who pack lunches with “higher risk foods” such as meat, poultry, soft cheese or eggs need to be extra vigilant to ensure it’s handled appropriately, health experts warn.
Food Safety Information Council research revealed one-quarter of parents won’t pack an ice brick or frozen water bottle in their kids’ lunch box.
A NSW Food Authority lunch box study of sandwiches left outside in 25 degree temperatures found bacteria levels for those kept in paper bags were almost five times higher than others from a lunch box with a frozen drink.
Australian Medical Association NSW President Brad Frankum said schools should encourage students to take their lunch into class when it was hot.
“I’ve always had a concern about the old school lunch box left in the school bag sitting outside the classroom just getting hot and then the child being hungry and eating it,” Dr Frankum said.
“Australians need to be mindful of the foods that are the most risky ... basically any animal product really.”
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Nutritionist Fiona Tuck said diarrhoea, vomiting, chills, nausea and stomach cramps could occur within an hour after eating contaminated food.
“It’s quite dangerous because children are small, they can get dehydrated very easily,” she said.
“The fresher the food, the more potential for bacteria.”
But Ms Tuck stressed parents shouldn’t pack more processed foods because they considered them safer.
“It’s about being sensible and not having those lunch boxes in the heat,” she said.
University of Newcastle professor of nutrition and dietetics Clare Collins said between 5C and 60C was the “danger zone” for bacteria that survived cooking.
“The longer it sits out in the sun, the higher the risk of bateria,” she said.
Food Safety Information Council spokeswoman Lydia Buchtmann suggested parents swap out meat, poultry and eggs for a can of tuna or sandwich spreads to minimise risk.
“Always include a frozen drink or ice block. The other thing to remember is keep that lunch box in the fridge until you leave,” she said.
Dr Frankum also encouraged parents to check to make sure kids were eating properly at school and “not just throwing food out”.