7 Ways to Avoid Summertime Food Poisoning

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Warm summer weather is the perfect weather for a cookout, but do you know what is it also perfect for? Food poisoning! Food poisoning is a food-borne illness caused by germs and bacteria in foods or drinks. Picture this: you put out the burgers, dogs, macaroni, and potato salad. The leftovers sit out in the heat for hours, and late guests or people who want seconds may be at risk of getting very ill. Foodborne illness occurs within a few hours to a few days. Symptoms include upset stomach, vomiting, stomach pains, cramps, fever, and headaches. It can become more severe if not treated. As much as we all love a summer barbecue, we need to focus on keeping our food safe; how we prep, serve, and store our food can make the difference between an enjoyable outdoor event or a trip to the emergency room. Here are seven ways to reduce the risk of food poisoning at your next cookout or picnic.

1
SCRUB YOUR HANDS
Wash your hands with warm and soapy water for 20 seconds before and after preparing raw meet, poultry, seafood, and produce!
2
WASH FRUITS AND VEGGIES
Think about all the people that have touched the fruits and vegetables you're about to cook!
3
COOK THOROUGHLY
Cook raw poultry, raw beef, and eggs to the right temperature and for the right amount of time before serving to avoid the risk of salmonella. Use a food thermometer to be sure food it cooked to the correct temperature.
4
KEEP IT COLD
Make sure your refrigerator is set to 40°F and your freezer to 0°F when storing food to maintain its freshness. Your food could spoil if you don't have your fridge and freezer at the right temperatures.
5
DON'T LET FOOD SIT
When cooked or uncooked food is left unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours, it's considered unsafe to eat. Food often sits out in the hot sun during a cookout, so be cautious of going back for another helping after a few hours.
6
WHEN IT COMES TO CONDIMENTS...
Refrigerate all condiments, such as mayonnaise and salad dressing, or any foods that have mayonnaise and salad dressing in them.
7
BE SAFE, NOT SORRY
Throw out food if you are not sure how long it has been left unrefrigerated; it's better to be safe with food by throwing it out than sorry, when you find yourself or others with a bad case of food poisoning