Don't Let Food-Borne Illness Spoil Your Summer Fun!

Following some simple steps can help keep you from becoming sick due to contaminated or undercooked food.

• Wash your hands before, while and after preparing food.
• Keep coolers cool. Food should stay 40 degrees or below.
• Keep raw meat away from ready-to-eat foods.

Barbecue Basics
Harmful bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella can lurk in undercooked meat.

• Use hot, soapy water to scrub the grill and rinse it well before and after cooking.
• Marinate food in a refrigerator or cooler.
• Use a thermometer to check temperatures inside meat as you cook. Hamburgers should be up to 160 degrees and chicken breasts to 165 degrees. Cuts of meat such as steaks and lamb or pork chops should be cooked to 145 degrees.
• Don't place cooked meat on platters that held raw meat.