Ants and clouds overhead may not be the only threats to your summer picnic. Before you load up your cooler, remember a few things that can
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Here are some tips for safe picnicking this summer:
- Keep hot foods hotter than 140° and cold foods colder than 40°.
- Keep coolers well iced and don't pack them too full.
- Wash hands, surfaces and utensils before and after handling uncooked meat.
- Keep uncooked meats in sealed containers so juices don't spill on other foods when transporting them to a picnic.
- Buy vinegar-based salads if mayonnaise-based varieties can't be kept cold.
- Thoroughly wash all produce with cool water before cooking and eating.
- Marinate meats in the refrigerator-not on the kitchen counter. Boil marinades for 10 minutes before pouring over cooked foods.
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prevent your famous chicken salad or tuna surprise from turning into a salmonella special.
There are more than 30 million cases of foodpoisoning each year, notes Debby Kasper, a dietitian at Advocate's Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. "And at no time is it more common than summer, when people are more likely to carry food with them and cook outside."
Many raw and perishable foods contain toxin-producing bacteria or parasites. When these foods are undercooked or are handled, prepared or refrigerated improperly, dangerous levels of these organisms can develop. One of the most common bacteria is salmonella, found in raw meats, eggs, fish and milk. Salmonella multiplies rapidly at room temperature-or outdoor temperatures in the summer.
People who have food poisoning may think they have the flu, Kasper notes, because the symptoms are similar: diarrhea, vomiting, fever, chills, headache and muscle cramps. In most cases, symptoms are fairly mild and subside within a day. "Some cases of food poisoning, though, can be severe-such as recent cases involving E. coli bacteria," notes Kasper. "If symptoms grow more severe or include blood in the stool, see a doctor right away." Food poisoning can be especially dangerous to children, older adults and people with chronic health conditions.
Protect yourself by following the guidelines above. Planning ahead and handling food properly can help ensure that you don't spoil your summer fun.
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