Newsgram

Eating outdoors in warm weather can present a food safety challenge.  In warmer weather disease-causing bacteria grow faster, potentially exposing you, your family and guests to cookouts and other outdoor parties to harmful food poisoning.  Keep your food and family safe by following some simple tips.

Most of the food served at a picnic will only be safe on the table for two hours.  If the air temperature is more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, food becomes unsafe after only one hour.  Once leftovers have been on the table that long, throw them away.

Wash hands and surfaces often.  Also wash fruit and veggies in cold tap water before eating to eliminate any bacteria.  

Separate raw and cooked foods.  Be sure to use one plate for the raw meat and a separate, clean plate for the newly cooked foods.  The same rule applies for other serving utensils.

Make sure your food is cooked through.  Use a thermometer to determine your grilled goodies were safely cooked.

Keep cold foods cold.

For more information about food safety, visit www.foodsafety.gov.

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