The kitchen is one of the places where children spend a lot of time, both for lunch and other activities such as homework, painting or watching TV. But the kitchen harbours many sources of contamination that can affect their health. It must be borne in mind that children are the segment of the population most susceptible to potentially unsafe elements, since their immune system is still developing and is much more vulnerable. This makes them more likely to get some type of food poisoning caused by bacteria that they may potentially come into contact with.

 

These bacteria can be found in cooking equipment, appliances and utensils, as well as raw foods. There are the so-called “kitchen hot spots", such as the waste area and the countertop, which must be cleaned regularly. The simple action of placing grocery bags on the countertop can result in the accumulation of microorganisms that could be harmful to health. If we do not sanitize the countertop, anything we place on it later (food, utensils, etc.) will be contaminated. The refrigerator handle—a surface area of 100 cm2—typically hosts anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 microbes. We must therefore take steps to prevent risks involving the space distribution in the kitchen (zoning), sanitation of equipment and work utensils, following guidelines for handling and cooking and food storage.

 

Today, new family habits, work schedules and distances between work and school mean that more than 1.2 million students in nursery, primary and secondary schools eat each day at school dining rooms, according to a study by Consumer. Children may thus be exposed to food poisoning outside the home.

But at home, parents can be actively involved in protecting the health and safety of their children. They are the ones ultimately responsible for providing the necessary means to prevent the possible outbreak of bacteria in the kitchen through hygiene and sanitation, especially in the kitchen. But then again, it is important to teach the younger household members proper hygiene habits since this is the time when habits and routines are formed. They will thus internalize correct habits that will become very resistant to change from adolescence onward, and they will most likely carry them with them to adulthood, thus ensuring their future quality of life.

 

Silestone Institute provides tips for children

 

To ensure that children follow proper hygiene both now and in the future, Silestone Institute suggests teaching them four basic principles:

Children also use the kitchen and the food prepared in it so our attitude and example will influence their current health and underpin their future attitude toward food and food handling. Although hygiene in the kitchen is not a game, it is child's play.

 

The Silestone Institute is a pioneer platform in Spain for the exchange of views, the study of hygiene in the kitchen and the dissemination of how it affects people’s health and welfare. It has an Advisory Board consisting of experts in these fields (Food Safety, Microbiology, etc.) who ensure the scientific rigor of the activities taking place, always on a non-profit basis.

 

"The kitchen is one of the places where children spend lots of their time, but it harbours many sources of contamination that can affect their health”.

“It is important to teach the younger household members proper hygiene habits, since this is the time when habits and routines are formed”.

"Silestone Institute provides 4 basic principles to teach them: clean, separate, chill and cook"

“Children also use the kitchen and the food prepared and for this reason our attitude and example will influence their present health and will underpin their future attitude toward food and food handling”.