Packing Safe Bag Lunches (2282)

When packing a lunch, follow these food safety tips:

- Wash the lunch container with hot water and soap after every use.

- Anything taken out of the refrigerator and put into your lunch must be kept cold. Perishable foods that must be kept cold include meat, tuna, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt, opened canned fruit, and fresh vegetables.

- Packed lunch foods that are safe at room temperature are peanut butter sandwiches, cookies, crackers and fresh fruit in the peel. Other safe foods at room temperature include commercial unopened single-serving containers of fruit and fruit juice, pudding, sandwich fillings, and beans, such as beans with franks.

- If lunches are packed the night before, keep perishable foods refrigerated. Be aware that the cold refrigerator air doesn't reach foods in an insulated lunch box or bag. Keep an insulated container open if stored overnight in the refrigerator. Add cookies, chips or other foods that lose crispness in the morning.

- If possible, store your lunch in a refrigerator until lunchtime.

- When refrigeration isn't possible, carry already chilled foods in an insulated lunch container. Include an ice pack or gel freezer pack, or freeze water in leak-proof plastic freezer containers.

- Use thermos containers to keep liquids or semi-fluid foods cold or hot.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

Feel free to forward, post or reprint any of the "Solutions" in their entirely, but please credit http://www.solutions.psu.edu/ as the original source of information, and please do not change the content.