(KNSI) – The summer weather may be hot and sunny, but there’s a forecast of foodborne illness for those not vigilant about food safety.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends several important food safety considerations for the next cookout.
Experts recommend bringing only the amount of food that can be consumed on the same day to avoid leftovers. It’s challenging to keep leftovers safely chilled for extended periods, especially when outdoors in a park or at the beach without access to a cold source, such as a constant supply of ice or refrigeration.
Speaking of keeping things cold, for cold dishes, use a cooler packed with plenty of ice or gel packs to maintain a temperature of 40 degrees or below. Coolers should be in the air-conditioned passenger compartment of a vehicle rather than in a hot trunk.
Several strategies can help keep a cooler at the right temperature throughout the day. For example, freeze water bottles or juice boxes to serve as extra ice in your cooler, which also provides cold drinks as they thaw. Place an appliance thermometer inside the cooler to be sure of the temperature and that it’s at a safe number. Once at the beach, park or picnic area, partially bury the cooler in the sand, cover it with a blanket, and shade it with a beach umbrella.
Hot foods require different handling and should be kept at or above 140 degrees by wrapping them in insulated bags and towels.
Hand hygiene becomes especially important when handling food outdoors. Always wash hands before, during and after handling food. When soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer or disposable moist towelettes containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Bring bottled water for drinking and cleaning to make sure there’s access to safe water throughout the day.
The USDA says when in doubt, throw it out. Discard any food that has been left out, especially in direct sunlight, for more than two hours. When the temperature exceeds 90 degrees, this window shrinks to just one hour.
For more food safety, click here.
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