Health officials offer outdoor food safety tips
Posted June 30, 2009 11:00 pm
Cook County health officials are offering some outdoor food safety tips for people planning picnics and barbecues this weekend.
Always wash hands thoroughly before preparing food and after handling raw meats. Scrub fruits and vegetables too.
Keep food chilled. Don't take food out of the refrigerator until it's time to leave for the picnic. Stock a cooler with plenty of ice and maintain a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cook or grill food properly. Make sure you bring a thermometer along to check on temperature. Cook hamburgers to an internal temperature of 160 degrees, ground poultry to 165 degrees and poultry parts to 180 degrees.
Put leftover perishable items back into the cooler immediately after grilling or serving.