Heating of Food and Drink

4.5 HEATING OF FOOD AND DRINK

While the legal requirement for reheating food is 60C, it is Centre policy that food must be reheated to 70C. Heating to this temperature will destroy germs that may have grown in the food. Ensure all food is heated to at least 70C and record temperatures in the 'Food Temperature Records' folder.

Ensure the food is allowed to cool before it is given to the children to eat. Any left overs MUST be thrown out. Food MUST only ever be heated once.

The '4-hour/2-hour rule'

The 4-hour/2-hour rule provides guidelines regarding the safety of food when it has not been stored under 5C or over 60C. Ready-to-eat food that has been at temperatures between 5C and 60C:

• For a total of less than 2 hours, must be refrigerated or used immediately (do not reheat milk or formula)
• For a total of longer than 2 hours but less than 4 hours, must be used immediately
• For a total of 4 hours or longer, must be thrown out.

Safe Heating of Breast Milk

Breast milk can be stored in several ways. It can be:

• refrigerated for 3-5 days at 4C or lower. ALWAYS store breast milk at the back of the refrigerator, not in the door
• stored without refrigeration (if needed) for 6-8 hours if the room temperature is less than 26C
• frozen in a separate freezer section of a refrigerator for up to 3 months
• frozen in a deep freeze (-18C or lower) for 6-12 months

ALWAYS ensure the breast milk is clearly labelled with the child's name.

When thawing frozen breast milk, always use the oldest milk first. Frozen breast milk can be thawed:

• in the refrigerator and used within 24 hours
• by standing the bottle in a container of lukewarm water and used straight away

To heat breast milk in bottle:

• stand the bottle in a container of hot water for no more than 10 minutes
• before feeding the infant, check the temperature of the milk by letting a little drop onto the inside of your wrist - it should feel comfortably warm or even a little bit cool
• NEVER microwave breast milk
• NEVER refreeze thawed breast milk
• Only warm the milk once, and discard any warmed milk that has not been used

Preparing Formula

Always wash your hands before preparing a bottle. Ensure that work surfaces, bottles and equipment are clean. It is recommended that formula is prepared as it is required. When preparing formula, follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Throw away any made up formula that is left over. Do not freeze or re-heat left over formula. Ensure the bottles are clearly labelled with the child's name.

Warming Bottles- Cow's milk and formula

Heat bottles once only. Do not allow a bottle to cool and then reheat it - this can allow germs to grow.

DO NOT warm bottles in the microwave. Microwave ovens distribute heat unevenly. Water in the milk can turn to steam that collects at the top of the bottle, and there is danger that the infant could be scalded.

To heat bottles, use bottle warmers, following the instructions provided. ALWAYS check the temperature of the milk by letting a little drop onto the inside of your wrist- it should feel comfortably warm or even a little bit cool.

Only warm the milk once, and discard any warmed milk that has not been used.

Sources:

- 'Staying Healthy'- 5^th Edition 2012 - NHMRC

- Food Handlers Course- VBECC

- Food Safety Rules- Department of Health- Feb 2012

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