Parents urged to keep lunches cool

28th August 2008, 10:12am

As children begin the new school year, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is reminding parents to keep their kids’ lunch boxes cool to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying.

An FDF and raisingkids.co.uk survey of 1,300 parents revealed that 35% don't worry about keeping their children's lunch boxes cool at all.

Yet guidance issued by the School Food Trust last September on packed lunch policies advised parents that the majority of schools don't have a fridge for children to store their lunch boxes in.

In fact, only 5% of parents responding to FDF's survey said their child's school has a fridge where lunch can be stored.

Helen Munday, FDF Director of Food Safety and Science, said: "Ensuring our children's lunch boxes stay cool is important to prevent foods from warming up and risking our kids' safety. Simple steps such as using a cool bag could keep bacteria from multiplying. Food poisoning bacteria multiply fast but to do so they need moisture, food, warmth and time – a warm lunch box left sitting around can provide all that. Bacteria multiplies best between 5 and 63°C and one germ can multiply to more than four million in just eight hours in the right conditions."

Some of the parents FDF surveyed had good ideas about ways to keep lunch boxes cool, with 24% saying they add a mini ice pack; 26% packing the lunch into a cool bag; and 7% adding frozen drinks such as a bottle of water, so it will be defrosted by lunchtime.

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