With the sun out and the warm weather here, it's the perfect time for picnics. Food safety is especially important when packing for outdoor meals. Here are four important food safety tips from the American Dietetic Association to remember before packing for a picnic.
First, keep your hands clean. It's a good idea to bring along soap or towelettes to make sure everyone can wash their hands often.
Second, keep your raw meats separate from your ready-to-eat foods.
Next, cook meats to the proper temperatures. Thermometers are good tools for cooking hamburgers (at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit) and chicken breasts (no less than 170 degrees Fahrenheit).
Lastly, keep everything refrigerated below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to pack a lot of ice in your cooler and only take out food as it is needed. With these tips in mind you should be food-poison free and ready to go.
Questions and answers are provided by the UW Dietetics and Nutrition club. Direct nutrition questions or further questions pertaining to food safety to askDNC@yahoo.com.
