Holidays are celebrated with great solemnity in our country. This solemnity also includes food. However, precisely for this reason, poisonings are more common during holidays. This is a situation particularly prevalent among children. Because one of the main reasons is that most salads, an integral part of holiday tables, are prepared with mayonnaise, and some parents store and consume these salads for several days.
It is interesting to know, for how long after preparation can salads be safely consumed? In general, which foods are dangerous for children?
Pediatrician Shalala Polukhova spoke to AzEdu.az on the topic.
She noted that the main reason for the increase in food poisonings among children during holidays is precisely the consumption of improperly stored and age-inappropriate foods:
"First of all, let me note what parents should pay attention to. We should know that children's digestive systems are more sensitive compared to adults and are not fully mature. Especially in infants and young children, this system is not mature, and in slightly older children, sensitivity still remains.
For this reason, not every food on the holiday table is considered suitable for children. Risky foods include mayonnaise-based salads, cream cakes, sweets, undercooked meat and chicken products, and excessively salty and spicy dishes. Foods left outdoors for a long time, ready-made sauces, and fast-food type products also generally pose a risk. Such foods create a favorable environment for rapid bacterial growth and can cause food poisonings in children, accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in some cases, fever. The main reason for the increase in food poisonings among children during holidays is precisely the consumption of improperly stored and age-inappropriate foods.
Mayonnaise-based salads pose a particularly high risk. This is because mayonnaise is generally not considered a food that stores well and is not recommended for children. As an alternative, dairy products such as yogurt or sour cream can be used, but mayonnaise is generally not considered appropriate. Salads should be consumed within a maximum of 12–24 hours after preparation. They should be stored in the refrigerator and should not remain at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If a salad has been stored for 2–3 days, it is absolutely not recommended to give it to a child. After a maximum of one day, it can only be used if stored under proper conditions.
So, what is safer to give to a child?
"In response to this question, we can mention freshly prepared, simple home-cooked meals. Boiled or oven-baked, well-cooked meat and chicken products are more suitable. Salads prepared without mayonnaise, using olive oil or yogurt, can be used. Fresh fruits can be given. Most importantly, the nutrition should be appropriate for the child's age. For example, giving mayonnaise-based salad to a 7–8-month-old child is absolutely not recommended. Children should generally adhere to the same diet during holidays as they do on ordinary days. Portion size and quantity should be appropriate for their age.
Our recommendation to parents is to feed children according to safe and appropriate nutrition principles during holidays. Not every food that looks appealing is beneficial for a child. Instead of trying to overfeed the child, it is necessary to provide as much food as they can eat and observe their satiety signals. It is not appropriate to force or encourage a child to eat more after they are full".
