Important Safety Tips from the USDA to Keep Your July 4th Picnic Safe From Food Poisoning

The Fourth of July celebration always centers on close friends and family and great food, usually from a barbeque.

Many families will be enjoying sun, sand, and a cookout either at the beach, the park, or in the backyard with family and friends again this year.

But, what about the risks surrounding the food we cook on the barbeque? There’s a surprising danger there that many people simply don’t think about—food poisoning. Incidents of food-related illnesses spike in the summer months, just as we’re sharing picnics and BBQs with our families.

The USDA recommends following these simple steps to make sure your family remains safe today from food poisoning:

Clean: Make sure you clean all surfaces, utensils, and hands with soap and water.
Separate: When grilling, use separate plates and utensils for raw meat and cooked meat and ready-to-eat foods (like raw vegetables) to avoid cross-contamination.

Cook: Cook foods to the right temperature by using a food thermometer. That’s the only way to know it’s a safe temperature. Remember, burgers should be cooked to 160°F.

Chill: Chill raw and prepared foods promptly if not consuming after cooking. You shouldn’t leave food at room temperature for longer than two hours (or 1 hour if outdoor temperatures are above 90° F), so if you’re away from home, make sure you bring a cooler to store those leftovers.

For more tips, go to FoodSafety.gov and check out our ‘Ask Karen’ app, available in English (m.AskKaren.gov) and Spanish (m.PregunteleaKaren.gov), to get access to more than 1,300 answers to food safety questions.