Summer is in full swing. Many Mesa County residents are using this time to partake in their favorite outdoor activities , which often requires a meal or two away from home. Are you doing your part to prevent foodborne illness this summer?
Packing the snack cooler for these activities is an important step to keeping you and your family healthy. While often forgotten , coolers can be a food safety hazard if not properly organized. Similarly to a refrigerator , meat must be kept separate from other foods to prevent cross contamination. Keep raw meat in a separate container or cooler away from fruit and veggies.
Finally , keep your food out of the danger zone. Take an extra cooler for drinks. A drink cooler will probably be opened more often than a cooler filled with food , making it more difficult for the internal temperature of the cooler to stay low. Limiting the number of times a cooler is opened and keeping food surrounded by ice will help keep food safe in the summer heat.
Pack a safe cooler:
- Keep raw meat in a separate container.
- Keep ready-to-eat food in a separate container.
- Keep food surrounded by ice.
- Consider a separate cooler for drinks.
