Summer Food Safety

​While it is always a good idea to get be familiar with food safety guidelines, summer is an especially good time to get a refresher on such rules. Temperatures outside rise and family travel picks up, which means food transport and storage will take a little more consideration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 1 in 6 Americans get sick from food-borne illnesses each year, so pack your beach or road trip snacks cautiously.
 
Some key points to note include not leaving food sitting out for more than two hours, or one hour after temperatures reach 90°F. If you are packing a cooler, be sure to clean it out first with soap and warm water to minimize bacteria growth. In general, you want cold food to remain cold (<40°F) so be sure to include ice on your packing list. Some public beaches, parks or rest areas may lack fresh water facilities, so ensuring you have
hand sanitizer is also a good idea. Basic Food Safety Standards can be found here. 

Did you know that dietitians have to spend a good amount of time in actual kitchens before we earn our credentials? That's right! Actually getting in the kitchen is the perfect place for us to learn things like food safety!