Summertime Food Safety

Summertime Food Safety

Summer celebrations involve people, picnics, and parties, but be sure to put safety on your checklist. If you’re planning to serve food, it’s important to remember food safety your guests won’t get a case of food poisoning.

“Most summertime foodborne illnesses are caused by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in foods that aren’t prepared or stored with the safety of a kitchen and nearby sink,” says Kris Sweckard, Director of Code Compliance. “But there are steps you can take to cut your risk.”

We’ve listed those steps below to help you keep safe for your summer cook-out.

Tips for safer food preparation in the summertime:

  • Clean!  Be sure to wash your hands properly and surfaces before preparing food. Use hot, soapy water to wash your hands before handling food, after using the restroom, after handling pets, or changing diapers.
  • Separate! Don’t cross contaminate! Cross contamination happens when bacteria is unintentionally transferred from a kitchen tool to food via direct contact. For example, if you cut raw meat on a cutting board, but forget to wash, rinse, and sanitize the cutting before cutting vegetables cross contamination may occur.
  • Cook: Cook food to proper temperatures.
  • Chill: Refrigerate food at the proper temperature and ensure good air circulation inside the refrigeration unit to maintain proper food temperature.

Dallas’ Code Compliance offers additional information regarding how to avoid foodborne illness during barbecues.

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