Does anyone know if it is safe to feed a toddler rare (just pink, not bloody) beef? I don't plan to feed it to her on purpose, but the other night she wanted a bite and it got me wondering whether or not she could eat it.
2007-02-01 14:16:12 · 16 answers · asked by Johnny Johnny 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Rare meat is actually safer for small children than well cooked dry meat, as it presents less of a choking risk and is easier for them to chew.
Meat cooked pink has reached 100 degrees celcius which kills bacteria. The ONLY meat you should serve well done is chicken which carries the salmonella bacteria and requires higher heat.
2007-02-01 14:20:44 · answer #1 · answered by minimouse68 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes, it's safe. The problem with beef is possibile fecal contamination which is always on the outside. A solid chunk of beef (like a steak or roast) only needs to be cooked on the outside to kill the bacteria, and can be left rare inside. Hamburger has had everything mixed through and needs to be cooked all the way through. That's the rule for everyone, not just toddlers or the elderly.
2007-02-01 14:30:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Rare beef does pose a health risk. The very young and very old are most susceptible to death by E-coli bacterial infection.
As a young adult through mid-life, you might get very sick, but not die from it, but a young child like that has a significantly higher likelihood of death from such an illness.
Therefore, give young children beef cooked through to the proper MINIMUM temperature of 145°F
Debunker: Both the USDA and the CDC say it IS possible for whole cuts of beef to be E-Coli contaminated on the interior of the cut - hence the recommendation to cook whole cuts to a min of said 145°F. In this case, all it takes is one E-Coli episode to kill a young child. Is this risk worth it? Hell no it's not!
2007-02-01 14:28:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
well done beef is probably safer but I think the risk is low. My daughter (4) prefers her beef pink and she is so picky I give it to her the way she likes it!
cooking your beef to 145 degrees is not well done. Well done, according to my beef cooking guide is more like 170-177. 145 degrees is probably still a little pink.
2007-02-07 14:01:54 · answer #4 · answered by anne p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't do it on purpose, but if it happens accidentally and it's just a bite, it's probably not too big a deal.
You should really ask a doctor, though. I don't think anyone who's answered so far really knows the answer. We're all just kind of guessing here.
2007-02-01 14:34:42 · answer #5 · answered by Gummybear 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hi,
I dont think i would feed a liltte one with rare meat but if he wants a bite or two...i dont see any harm. Uncooked meat is no good has it has alot of bacteria that only dies when cooked under alot of heat for a while....hope this helps...
2007-02-01 14:24:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anjila N 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Children don't have the immune capabilities that an adult has, so if the food would be infected with bacteria, it could do more serious damage.
It is best to make sure the food is all well done. Better safe than sorry. . .
2007-02-01 14:25:20 · answer #7 · answered by volleyballchick (cowards block) 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think it's okay to share a bit of steak with the child. Rare tastes so much better, what's the point in eating a steak that's overcooked and tastes like cardboard? My daughter loves rare steaks.
2007-02-01 14:29:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
don't let your child eat that. uncooked meat(even if its rare) has bacteria that their body may not be able to handle yet. the best thing to do is make sure that eerything they eat for now is fully cooked and clean
2007-02-06 06:25:29 · answer #9 · answered by ber-ber21 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't recommend it. Children need well done with beef and pork. ITs not safe for them/
2007-02-01 14:20:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋