Keep Kids' Lunches Cool Until They're Ready To Eat

According to a new study, most brown bag lunches are not stored at the proper temperature, which means that sandwich could get your child sick.

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By Corey Allen-Young

Story Created: Aug 16, 2011 at 9:14 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 16, 2011 at 9:28 AM AKDT


ANCHORAGE—As a new school year begins, you may want to think twice about how you're packing your kids' lunches. According to a new study reported in the journal, Pediatrics, most bag lunches are not packed at the right temperature.

According to the study, more than 95 percent of veggies, meats and dairy products in kids' lunches are way too warm by the time kids are ready to eat.

“It is very important to make sure that cold foods stay cold during the morning until lunch time,” said Diane Peck, who is the state’s community and evaluation specialist.

So, how can you keep food at the right temperatures without getting your kids sick and make sure the lunch is still nutritious?

Experts say it's as simple as following the food guidelines recommend by the Choose My Plate program, which shows how much fruit, grains and protein should be included. You can find all these items in the store—everything from carrots to cheese, and even the juice box, which can also be used as an insulator to keep your kids’ food at the right temperature.

“It’s maintained at 41 degrees or below,” said Nancy Fuller, the Anchorage School District’s microbiologist, of the temperature school cafeterias maintain for the 20,000 meals they serve every day.

Fuller also said food servers work in four-hour time spans to keep the bacteria out.

“Most of the time the temperature outside is below freezing so we don't really have any issues with food being too warm,” Fuller said.

Experts say food should not be left out for more than two hours, and should be kept as cold as if it was stored in a refrigerator at 40 degrees or below.

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Kardinal said on Thursday, Aug 25 at 2:11 PM

What a joke. Raise your hand if you know someone who died eating an unsanitary school lunch their mom packed for them as a kid? You wonder why we have all the allergies and wimpy kids that go to a doctor or emergency room for the slightest sniffle. People doing the research on MY tax dollars need to go get a life.

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jjj said on Tuesday, Aug 16 at 3:55 PM

This is not news! what a joke! typical ktva bs. BESIDES, the goverment will tell you what to pack and how to pack it! got it? or there will be fines and penalties

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Bart Smirnoff said on Tuesday, Aug 16 at 9:52 AM

This article has such a "DUH" factor. There's no real solution given. Why not include one of those frozen gel packages in the lunch bag to keep things cold. Just refreeze it every night before the next day. Pack it next to the foods most susceptible to becoming too warm.

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