As families and friends gather outdoors, MDARD says that it’s paramount to keep the culinary celebrations free from the menace of foodborne illnesses. Tim Slawinski, Director of MDARD’s Bureau of Food Safety and Animal Health, is urging everyone to follow these tips to ensure your holiday meals are safe and healthy

Wash your hands like you mean it:

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Just as a chef meticulously cleanses vegetables before chopping, so too should all culinary crusaders and grilling gurus scrub their hands with soap and water. In the absence of a cleansing stream, brandish disposable hand wipes or the trusty hand sanitizer to rid hands of lurking villains.

Temperature tango:

Bacteria, those mischievous mischief-makers, thrive between the temperatures of 40°F and 140°F, a realm dubbed the “Danger Zone.” To keep them at bay, ensure cold foods remain frosty by nestling them amidst ice during transport. And when the sun beats down, never leave perishable victuals to languish in its warmth – that includes your potato salads, deviled eggs and other delights. For leftovers, retreat swiftly to the safety of the cooler.

According to the FDA, you should never let your picnic food remain in that “Danger Zone” for more than two hours – or even one hour if the outdoor temperatures are above 90°F. They also offer additional food safety tips on their website.

And as the flames dance and the meat sizzles, wield the mighty meat thermometer to ensure each cut is cooked to perfection.

Chill with the beverages and keep everything separate:

Divide and conquer, they say…Keep perishable delights separate from thirst-quenching elixirs. The beverage cooler, ever in demand, is opened frequently, allowing the sultry air to infiltrate. Meanwhile, the food cooler, left undisturbed, maintains its frosty facade for a longer period of time.

Cleanse and conquer:

In addition to arming yourself with clean, soapy towelettes to vanquish germs from both surfaces and hands, lay a protective table cover upon picnic tables, battle-scarred from weather and wildlife, lest they harbor unseen foes. And when the feast concludes, leave no trace but goodwill, wiping down the battlefield for the next troop of picnickers.

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