Health

Don’t spoil your picnic

Ants aren’t the only little creatures that can spoil a summer picnic.
Another thing that can spoil a picnic or other outing is food-borne bacteria from improperly handled, prepared or stored foods. Hot temperatures accelerate the production of bacteria that contain toxins which may cause food poisoning. “Typically you cannot see, smell or taste food-borne bacteria.  Symptoms of food poisoning include a fever or headache, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea.
Picnic foods typically require a lot of handling, and the more foods are handled the greater the risk of contamination.  The key guidelines to follow for better picnic food safety are: clean, separate, cook and chill.
Hands should be washed thoroughly, as should the surfaces on which food is being prepared and any containers, serving pieces or utensils being used.
Since many picnic areas may not have easy access to running water, it is a good idea to bring your own dish washing soap and water, hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial wipes.
It is especially important to keep picnic foods separated when storing, preparing and serving them.  Use a separate cutting board for fresh produce and raw meats. Foods to be grilled on-site should be securely wrapped so juices don’t drip onto other foods. They should be separated from vegetables and premade foods, preferably in their own cooler.  Keep them in the cooler until you are ready to cook and only take out the amount you intend to put on the grill.
Separating raw and cooked foods will help avoid cross-contamination, and keeping foods covered will help avoid contamination from insects or foreign objects. Hot foods should be kept hot and cold foods should be kept cold and beverages and perishable foods should be kept in separate coolers.
Cooked meat, poultry, fish or seafood should be eaten right away.  The clock also is ticking on consuming any foods remaining in the cooler once the ice has melted.  Usually there’s about a two-hour maximum window for safely consuming food after the ice in a cooler has become water.   But if you’re concerned about whether food is safe or not, the best rule of thumb is always: When in doubt, toss it out.