There shouldn't be any issues with food and anything from the frozen rats getting into your food or the baby's. Biggest thing is just make sure you wash your hands after feeding or holding them. Sanitizer in the gallon jugs with the pump comes in handy too. We still it both now after with all of ours and the now 3 year old who loves them all. Keep in mind we only had 2 balls and a boa when our daughter was born, we now have 12 total and she knows which are "pet rocks", the boas and the corns and milk snakes. lol