September is Food Safety Education Month, a topic to consider when sending your little ones off to school.

Washington County Environmental Health Public Health Inspector Cindy Chavez says when packing a lunch for your loved ones it’s important to think about how long the food is sitting out in room temperature conditions and whether the lunch includes perishable items like meat and dairy products. Those foods when left out can spoil after a few hours and lead to a foodborne illness. Chavez says one alternative can be making a peanut butter sandwich, and mentions that fruits stay fresh longer uncut, “If you do decide to go the route of dairy products, making sure that your items are being kept cold so keeping at least two packs of let’s say ice packs or keeping the lunch bag overnight in the refrigerator or even freezing it in the freezer. I know some individuals decide to do that.”

Chavez adds other ways to avoid foodborne illnesses are to remember to wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces when putting lunches together. Depending on the material she also recommends sticking your lunch bags in the washer every so often to get rid of unwanted bacteria.