AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question my daughter uses a pacificer dipped incomercialy prepared grape jelly for her three month infant son when nothing else works to calm him after exhausting all other possibilities for excessive crying. how many hours/days can the spoon with grape jelly be used safely if it is not refrigerated? usually the house temp is kept around 78. i'm concerned about mold growth.
Answer Hi Cynthia,
Seems to me your daughter should be keeping a small container of grape jelly in the refrigerator (or better yet confiscate grape jelly packets from restaurants and fast-food chains and keep these in the babies diaper bag or you daughter's purse until ready to use). There would be no need to have a spoon with grape jelly on it sitting at room temperature.
Fortunately, jelly is a high sugar, low water activity food that does not readily support the growth of bacteria. Mold, on the other hand can grow and that is why we advise keeping open jelly in the refrigerator -- to slow down the mold growth. Also unfortunately, some molds can produce microscopic hairlike projections that can work their way down through soft foods like jelly. These would not be seen by the naked eye. Therefore, there is no recommendation on how long foods that should be refrigerated after opening can safely sit at room temperature. I think it would be best for your daughter to investigate disposable grape packets so she can open them as needed and dispose after their use.
While this sounds completely wacko -- Have you had the baby checked out by a chiropractor? I ask because one of my colleagues new granddaughter cried excessively for the first couple of months and the parents tried everything -- change of formula, etc.with no relief. Finally someone suggested that they take the baby to a chiropractor as the baby's neck and spine may be out of alignment (due to the birthing process) and causing the baby great pain. They reported that instantaneously, the baby stopped crying after a gentle manipulation and has been fine ever since. It's just a thought....
I hope this has helped Cynthia. If I can be of further assistance, please let me know.
