How to Safely Prepare Baby Food

It is important to handle food correctly to prevent your baby from contracting food poisoning, salmonella poisoning and E. coli.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Dishwashers

1. Always wash hands before and after preparing food, and use clean utensils.
2. After using a cutting board for preparing poultry or raw meat, run board through a dishwasher. If you don't have a dishwasher, wash with antibacterial soap and warm water.
3. Always wash cutting surfaces, knives and sink with antibacterial soap and hot water after handling poultry.
4. Defrost food in the microwave or refrigerator, not on the kitchen counter.
5. Cook poultry, beef and pork until they are done in the middle: you should not be able to see any pink. Well done is best.
6. Do not allow uncooked poultry, meat or eggs to come into contact with cooked foods.
7. Cook eggs until whites are firm and yolks are thick.

Tips & Warnings

• Never purchase food in cans with bulging tops or jars with broken seals. Also, if a can hisses when you open it, throw away immediately - the food could be contaminated with botulism, a serious food poisoning.
• Never give infant foods on which he/she can choke, such as popcorn, nuts, grapes, firm vegetables, large chunks of meat, hard candy and flower seeds.
• Never refreeze frozen food that has thawed, with exception of bread.
• Many babies are highly allergic to honey during first year.
• Avoid processed meats with nitrates, processed cheese and artificial flavors.
• Don't put leftover baby food back in jar.