In the first years of life, children can be at risk of many illnesses or infections, which is why there are many dietary recommendations for parents.
Some of them are less known. In a recent video published on her Instagram account, doctor of virology and immunology Océane Sorel, aka “thefrenchvirologist” warns of the risks of a certain number of recipes for children under 5 years old. What do they have in common? They are all prepared based raw or lightly cooked eggs.
These 6 delicious egg-based recipes but not recommended for children under 5 years old
In this video, the virologist highlights 6 very appetizing egg-based dishes that should be avoided for young children:
- boiled eggs
- tiramisu
- homemade mayonnaise
- homemade chocolate mousse
- carbonara pasta made with raw eggs
- fried eggs (if the yolk is undercooked)
Recipes using raw eggs: what is the risk for young children?
This recommendation is not new. Indeed, in their official documentation on dietary diversification for toddlers, Santé Publique France and MangerBouger.fr advise do not give children under 3 years old preparations made from raw eggs. Océane Sorel explains that eggs can contain microbes such as salmonella and thatundercooking this food may not kill all the bacteria presentwhich would then be a risk for the health of young children.
As the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics (AFPA) reminds us, these toxic infections, which are often mild in adults, can be serious in children. The association’s pediatricians therefore advise against raw eggs as well as products made from raw or undercooked eggs. However, children under 5 years old can safely eat overcooked eggs.
But eggs are not the only common foods that are not recommended for young children’s diets when they are undercooked. Many other ingredients in everyday dishes can pose a risk of bacterial infection to children. This is why the AFPA recommends that children under 5 years of age also avoid raw or undercooked meat, raw milk and raw milk cheese, or even shellfish and raw fish.
The feeding of young children therefore requires many precautions. If in doubt, it is best to contact your pediatrician. And if you can’t do without these recipes, there are alternatives suitable for dietary recommendations for young children such as egg-free chocolate mousse.
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