Some families' member may ask or give the child the holiday leftovers to bring into school. After the holiday to share with other children in the classroom when the 5 year-old Isabella brought in questionable brownies and Steve the after-care employees shares the brownies to the children that is when Steve should have considered such request and had been aware of the health regulations in his area for giving the brownies to the children and considered that they may be made for children whose diet restriction that maybe complex. When addressing the problem with the staff member teachers need to explain that some states and local health authorities discourage or prohibit sending meals from home. When addressing these problems with the staff members the need explain and discuss that these foods from home may increase the risk of food borne illness and be careful weighting the pro and cons of allowing food be brought from home and be proactive in prevention of food borne illness by discussing policies that support safe food and meet state and county regulations. The staff members would be reminded that NAEYC accreditations standards "recommend that foods brought from home to share with other children must consist of whole fruits or commercially prepared package foods" (American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, & National Resource Center for health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education, 2007). Then each staff members need to go over the specific steps to take steps to prevent the problem brings home food to school. The steps that staff members should have proper steps to follow and guidelines for families when bring in food from which includes the following:
1. Food should always be sent in lunch containers that have frozen ice packs.
2. Food should be labeled with the child's name, the date, and the type of food.
3. Food should not be shared with other children in the classroom or a program which may be restricted for children whose diet maybe complex.
4. Families need to be notified to get a written agreement between the family member and the children program what it is permitted to bring food from home.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, & National Resource Center for health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education (2007). National health and safety performance standards: Guidelines for out-of-home child care programs (2nd ed.) Retrieved from:
https://www.eric.edgov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sq1/content storage_01/0000019b/80/14/0d/14.pdf