A picnic at the park or on the beach can be great fun in the warmer months, but it’s important that your food arrives safely to prevent food borne illnesses.
Food safety begins in your kitchen, be sure to wash your hands and handle all the items you plan to take along safely and on a clean surface. It’s a good idea to keep lunch meats, any raw meat, cheeses and condiments in soft-sided bags or coolers with freezer gel packs. And be sure to separate raw meats from all other items. Foods should be stored at forty degrees Fahrenheit, so limit the amount of times you open your cooler or pack one cooler for drinks and one cooler for perishable food items. When it’s time to clean up, never repackage foods in containers used for raw meats and avoid taking uncooked items back home.