It’s a Holiday for Outdoor Eating, but Heed These Risk Factors for Contamination

It’s barbecue season and one in four people will get sick from contaminated food this summer, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are some tips from Albertson’s grocery store to prevent problems:

Food Handling

* Always wash hands, utensils and cutting boards beforehand--and afterward, especially if food remains on them for more than two hours.

* Serve grilled foods at once. They should never be at room temperature longer than two hours. (One hour if the outside temperature is more than 85 degrees.)

* Be sure to cook hamburgers to at least 170 degrees internally.

* If it’s pink in the middle, it’s cooked too little.

* After basting raw meat, be sure to boil the marinade for two minutes before reusing.

Picnic Packing

* Minimize the worry of storing leftovers by bringing only what will be eaten.

* Use sturdy insulated coolers with ice and gel packs several inches deep.

* Double wrap raw meat and pack separately from other items to prevent cross contamination with other foods.

* When traveling, keep the cooler inside the car instead of the hot trunk.

* If you don’t have a cooler, take non-perishables like peanut butter, veggies, fresh or dried fruits, mixed nuts and canned meats, none of which need to be kept cold.

* Use a separate cooler for drinks to limit the opening and closing of a cooler that contains perishables.

* Remember that a picnic doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be as easy as bringing already made deli sandwiches, string cheese and apples.

Scrubbing Those Hands

The Orange County Red Cross Scrubby Bear program offers parents, teachers and school administrators a fun and educational package that promotes hand washing among children to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The phrase “Don’t get sick, wash up quick” reinforces the vital habit.

The program can be used in classrooms, day-care centers, youth gatherings or at home. A videotape, brochures, posters, buttons, stickers, coloring pages and a Scrubby Bear Clean Hands Club Pledge Card are among the materials available.

The video, starring Scrubby, teaches young children how and when to wash their hands to help prevent the spread of infectious diarrhea, hepatitis A and the common cold. It was produced as a collaboration of the American Red Cross’ Orange County Chapter and the Orange County Department of Education.

For more information on the Scrubby Bear program, contact the American Red Cross, Orange County Chapter at (714) 481-5358.