What food should never be served to an infant under a year old because of the risk of infant botulism?
Show evgenyatamanenko/iStock/Thinkstock Safety is a major concern when it comes to feeding infants and toddlers. Both food poisoning and choking can have serious consequences. Staying informed and following a few guidelines can help to make meal time safer. Foods Young Children Should AvoidInfants and young children tend to have weaker immune systems than adults, which makes food poisoning very dangerous for this age group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report those under 5 years of age as being at high risk, with increased rates of infection and serious complications, such as kidney failure. By making use of safe food handling and preparation guidelines, you can help reduce the risk of spreading food poisoning. When feeding young children, avoid:
Avoid feeding young children straight from a container that is going to be stored again for later use such as a baby food jar. The "double dipping" from spoon-to-mouth and back to container, introduces bacteria from your child's mouth into the rest of the food. This bacteria can continue to grow in the leftovers and may cause food poisoning. A safer method is to spoon baby food from the jar into a separate dish and then feed from the new dish instead. Throw away all uneaten food from the dish. Food that has not been in contact with the child’s mouth can be stored in the refrigerator according to the guidelines below. For safe food storage, reseal the container of food that has not been used to feed the child and store it in the refrigerator (at 40°F or below).
Risks of ChokingYoung children also are at a high risk of choking. Just because they have teeth does not mean they can handle all types of foods. In order to avoid choking, don't offer these foods to children younger than four:
Practice food safety when feeding young children by following these strategies:
Freshly PickedExplore...Find Nutrition ExpertsNeed serious help making a plan? The nutrition experts in our professional membership are ready to help you create the change to improve your life. Find a Nutrition Expert What foods should not be given to infants under one year of age?Foods like whole nuts, popcorn, whole grapes, raw vegetables, raisins, candies, dried fruits, seeds, or any other small, hard food should not be given to a baby. They are all choking hazards and can easily become lodged in your baby's throat.
What food should you never give an infant because of possible botulism spores?One way to reduce the risk of botulism is to not give infants honey or any processed foods with honey before their first birthday. Honey is a proven source of the bacteria. If you have questions about other products to avoid, ask your doctor.
What foods cause botulism?Low-acid foods are the most common sources of botulism linked to home canning. These foods have a pH level greater than 4.6. Low-acid foods include most vegetables (including asparagus, green beans, beets, corn, and potatoes), some fruits (including some tomatoes and figs), milk, all meats, fish, and other seafood.
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