How to protect your picnic food
Protect yourself in the outdoors, says The American Cancer Society (ACS) -- read all about it here -- and protect your picnic food too, say the cancer experts who are sending me an electronic monthly newsletter all about healthy living.Warm weather poses a big threat of food-borne illness, according to the ACS. So: Keep bacteria away at your next outdoor feast with these five easy steps.
- Wash your hands before cooking and again after cooking, especially after touching raw meat. If you aren't near a faucet, grab a wet napkin or hand sanitizer -- they'll reduce the number of germs on your hands.
- Keep hot food hot. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken should be kept at 140 degrees F or warmer.
- Keep cold foods cold. Even if you've got your food packed in a cooler, tuck it in a shady area. Keep at 41 degrees F or cooler.
- Wash melons before cutting them. This way, less bacteria will slip into the flesh from the rind when you slice them.
- Bring extra plates to cut down on cross-contamination. Use some to handle raw foods and others to handle cooked foods.
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