While summer is a great time to spend quality time outdoors with friends and family, these events can lead to serious illness if the food is not properly handled. The warmer temperatures lead to an increase in food poisoning cases because these germs thrive and grow well under these conditions. Here are a few tips to keep your loved ones safe while enjoying the sun.
- Refrigerate perishable foods within 1 hour if it is 90 degrees or warmer when you are shopping for groceries or eating outside
- When grilling, throw out marinades or sauces that have touched raw meats or meat juices
- Always use clean utensils and plates to remove cooked foods from the grill. Do not use the same utensils or plates because it can lead to cross contamination
- Bring hand sanitizer or wipes to clean your hands before preparing or eating food if there is not access to a sink
- Always bring a food thermometer to make sure your meat is cooked to the proper temperature to ensure it is safe to eat. Check out this website for all of the temperatures foods should be cooked to: https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/safe-minimum-cooking-temperature