Title

Safe Food for Babies: Handling Breast Milk, Formula and Baby Food

(FN656, Revised July 2024)

File

Publication File:

FN656 Safe Food for Babies: Handling Breast Milk, Formula and Baby Food

Summary

Infants and young children are most at risk for foodborne illness because their immune systems are not fully developed. Follow the tips in this publication to keep breast milk, formula and baby food safe for babies.

Lead Author

Lead Author:

Julie Garden-Robinson, Ph.D., R.D., L.R.D.

Other Authors

Tami Totland,R.D., L.R.D.Food and Nutrition Specialist Program Assistant (former)

Availability

Availability:

Web only

Publication Sections

Keep it Clean!

Handle it Safely!

Breast Milk

Formula

Baby Food

Resources

Keep it Clean!

Wash your hands! To prevent the spread of harmful bacteria from your hands to the baby’s mouth, wash your hands in warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
Clean bottles and nipples after every use. Use dish soap and hot water to wash and rinse all utensils used to prepare and serve food (including the can opener).
To sterilize bottles and accessories, place in boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove with tongs and allow to air dry completely for one hour before using. Many bottles are dishwasher-safe and will be sterilized after being washed by this method.
Wash eating areas with hot, soapy water.

Handle it Safely!

Collect expressed breast milk in sterilized 4-ounce plastic bottles and plastic bottle liners and immediately store in the refrigerator.
Milk that won’t be used within 24 to 48 hours should be frozen immediately in sterilized, 4-ounce plastic or glass bottles or sealable plastic bags. Label with the date and use older milk first. Frozen breast milk can be stored for three to six months.
Thaw breast milk in warm water only. To distribute the fat, shake the container of milk before serving.
Do not refreeze breast milk.
Unused portions of breast milk left in the bottle after feeding should be discarded.
Avoid leaving a bottle with a baby during naptime as the milk may become unsafe to drink over time and can lead to future tooth decay.

Fill sterilized bottles with just enough formula for one feeding. Bottles can be sterilized in boiling water for five minutes or in the dishwasher. Throw away leftovers. Harmful bacteria from the baby’s mouth may have entered the bottle during feeding and could grow to unsafe levels.
Tightly cover and place cans of liquid formula directly in the refrigerator after filling the bottle. Open cans of liquid ready-to-use formula will remain safe for up to 48 hours. Prepared infant formula should be used within 24 hours.
Follow the manufacturers recommendations for preparing bottles before filling with any kind of formula, powder or liquid. Observe the “use by” and “expiration” dates on formula cans. Vitamin levels and food quality deteriorate after the expiration date.
Avoid leaving a bottle with a baby during naptime as the milk may become unsafe to drink over time and can lead to future tooth decay.

Baby Food

Check the “circle of safety” button in the center of baby food jars at the store. A “down” button means the jar is sealed and safe to use.
Avoid buying damaged jars with chipped glass, rusty lids or dirty labels.
Spoon out the desired amount of baby food from the jar into a separate feeding dish and immediately place the remainder in the refrigerator. Do not feed an infant directly from the jar because saliva on the spoon may contaminate the remaining food.
If making homemade baby food, use a brush to thoroughly clean areas around blender blades or food processor parts. Harmful bacteria may lurk in these areas. “Home Canning of Fruit and Fruit Products” (HE-174), an NDSU Extension publication, has more information on home canning baby food. It’s available at www.ag.ndsu.edu/food.
Do not feed honey to a child 1 year old or younger. Honey can contain “spores” (seed-like forms of bacteria) that could cause botulism in young children. Botulism can cause serious illness or death.
Freeze homemade baby food by putting the mixture in an ice cube tray and covering with plastic wrap until frozen. Transfer food cubes into a freezer bag or airtight container and label with contents and date.