7 Tips for a Healthy Picnic
Summer is here! It is time to break out the barbecue and hit the outdoors
for fun in the sun. But before you pack up your picnic basket for a fun-filled
afternoon at the park, fire up the backyard barbecue, or prepare a poolside
lunch for friends, there are a few very important precautions you should take to
prevent foodborne illness from ruining your outdoor eating activities. "The incidence of foodborne illness is most prevalent
during from May to September," says Marlene
Clark, registered dietitian at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles,
- Wash your hands often! When preparing a variety of foods at the same time,
it is important not to pass bacteria from one food to another with your
hands. Washing your hands with warm soapy water for at least 15 seconds
before preparing foods and after handling raw meats will significantly lower
the risk of foodborne illness.
- Keep raw meats and ready-to-eat foods separate! Cross contamination occurs
when juices from raw meats accidentally touch cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
Make sure to use two separate cutting boards; one for raw meat, and the
other for fruits and vegetables.
- "Make mine well!" Whether you like your steak rare or not, it is
very important to cook your large cuts of meat throughout. It is ok to have
pink in the center, but make sure the outside is cooked to a dark brown.
When barbecuing poultry or seafood, always make sure the meat is cooked
through out. Use a food thermometer to check the proper cooked temperature
of the foods you are preparing.
- "Never wear the same plate twice!" Plates that have had raw
meats on them should always be washed immediately. Never use the same plate
once the meat has been cooked!
- Keep hot food hot, and cold food cold! Particularly when you're enjoying
an afternoon picnic in the sun, it is critical that cold foods such as
potato salad, stay chilled throughout the day. Hot foods, like steak,
chicken or hot dogs should be kept covered in foil to retain heat. At the
end of the day, make sure to promptly refrigerate all the food you intend to
save for the next day. This will help reduce the growth of bacteria in the
- Keep melons out of the "Danger Zone!" Melons can pose a risk for
foodborne illness if not prepared or stored properly. Before cutting into a
melon, wash the outer surface with water thoroughly to remove surface dirt -
even if the melon looks clean! Once a melon has been cut, you must keep it
chilled in ice or refrigerated at 45 degrees or less. Cut melons can be
served without refrigeration for a maximum of 4 hours.
- "Safety on the side!" Never keep side food items out for longer
than two hours that are prepared with mayonnaise or are considered high in
protein. Bacteria can multiply in moist foods including salads and desserts.
Keep your cold side dishes chilled and away from the sun at all times!
For much more on how to
avoid Foodborne Illness, please visit the following MedicineNet.com areas:
This information has been provided with the kind permission of Cedars-Sinai Medical
Center, Los Angeles, California.Last Editorial Review: 6/26/2002