Food Safety - It's In Your Hands!

Be Cool, Chill Out, Refrigerate Promptly. Cartoon of an Open Refrigerator with Sunglasses, Arms and Legs Showing Food Inside.
Chill out this summer!  The summertime is a wonderful time to enjoy the beach, picnics, barbecues and other outdoor eating festivities. Taking the necessary precautions in keeping food safe, can prevent you from suffering from foodborne illness. Each year, approximately 76 million people in the US suffer from foodborne illness. Learn a few simple easy tips on how you can keep your food safe.  
  • Wash your hands before preparing or eating food. Food safety - it's in your hands!
  • Avoid/Limit the intake of raw or uncooked shellfish.
  • Cooked foods should not be left standing at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 degrees F and 140 F.
  • Do not thaw frozen meat at room temperature - let it stand overnight in the refrigerator.
For more information: http://www.foodsafety.gov or http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodborne/index.html