School Lunch Safety

toddler eating safe school lunch

Keep Your Child's Lunch Box Safe

A lunchbox filled with healthy and delicious food doesn't just make kids happy. It also can help them perform better in school.

However, if you're not careful, you could be packing food poisoning along with that peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Follow these simple rules to make sure your child's lunchbox makes the safety grade:

  • Clean the lunch box. Even a small food spill can be a bacteria magnet. Scrub your child's lunch box with hot, soapy water regularly to avoid contamination.
  • Think before you pack. Choose foods that have little chance of spoiling, such as crackers; uncut, dried, or canned fruits; whole veggies; hard cheeses; canned meat and fish; and individual serving containers of pudding and apple sauce.
  • Keep the food cold. Lunches packed at home should be kept cool throughout the day. Using an insulted lunch bag with an ice pack is the best choice for keeping lunches cold. However, if using paper bags, considering double-bagging to create an additional layer of insulation.
  • Refrigerate if possible. If your child's day care or classroom has a refrigerator, ask to use it.
  • Keep hot foods hot. Use a thermos if you're packing your child a hot lunch. When hot foods cool down, they become a breeding ground for potentially harmful bacteria.
  • Don't reuse. Reusing paper lunch bags, sandwich bags, foil, or plastic wrap may be a great way to save some money, but they can become contaminated with bacteria. If possible, use new bags every time.
  • Leave leftovers behind. Some kids like to keep their lunchtime leftovers for an afternoon snack, but not all foods are suitable. Encourage your kids to throw away perishable foods after they are finished eating. You can pack extra non-perishable foods for an afternoon snack.

Check out more food poisoning prevention tips.

What Should I Do if My Child Becomes a Victim of Food Poisoning?

If your child suffers from food poisoning and you think contaminated food caused your child's illness, contact the Pennsylvania law firm of Edgar Snyder & Associates right away. Keep the food you believe caused the food poisoning to preserve evidence, and learn the factors that may determine whether you have a food poisoning case.

Then, call 412-394-1000, or fill out the form at the top right of this webpage for a free legal consultation. There's no obligation, so you have nothing to lose. We'll answer your questions and help you determine your legal rights. Our phones answer 24/7, so contact us now.