Amid rising concerns of child dietary health tied to the chemicals in food and food packaging, The American Academy of Pediatricians July 23 released guidelines on how to reduce chemical intake in children via a policy statement published in Pediatrics.
Here are the guidelines suggested by AAP:
1. Prioritize eating fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
2. Avoid processed meats, especially during pregnancy.
3. Avoid microwaved food and beverages — including instant formula and already pumped breast milk — packaged in plastic containers.
4. Don't put plastic containers used for food or beverages in the dishwasher.
5. Use glass and stainless steel containers as alternatives to plastic.
6. Avoid plastics with recycling codes 3, 6 and 7, which contain phthalates, styrene and biphenols, respectively, unless the plastic is labeled with "biobased" or "greenware," meaning it does not contain bisphenols.
7. Before handling food and drinks, wash hands and wash all fruits and vegetables that are not peeled.
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