Why is food safety part of complementary feeding?
WHO defines safe complementary feeding as food that is hygienically stored and prepared and fed with clean hands using clean utensils. Food safety therefore sits alongside timing, nutritional adequacy and responsive feeding in the WHO complementary-feeding framework.
What does WHO say about hands and utensils?
WHO’s guiding principles say caregivers should wash hands before preparing food or feeding children, wash the child’s hands before feeding, and wash cooking utensils. WHO also advises washing fruits and vegetables.
What does WHO say about water and cooking?
WHO’s complementary-feeding guidance includes using clean water and cooking food thoroughly. Its food-safety messages also advise keeping food-preparation areas clean.
Why separate raw and cooked food?
WHO’s guiding principles advise avoiding contact between raw foodstuffs and cooked food. The same source advises protecting uncooked food from insects, rodents and other animals.
What does WHO say about cooked-food storage?
WHO’s guiding principles prefer frequent preparation rather than storing cooked food. If cooked food is saved, WHO says it should be kept as cool as possible, and previously cooked food should be thoroughly reheated before serving.
Related ChildSpecialist.in information
For the wider complementary-feeding framework, see feeding in the first two years. For separate WHO information on diarrhoea and dehydration, see diarrhoea and dehydration: general information for parents.
References
- World Health Organization. Complementary feeding.
- World Health Organization. Guiding principles for complementary feeding of the breastfed child.