Keeping You and Your Foods Safe
Whether you plan to grill on the patio
or picnic in the park, eating balanced
meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables
will keep you healthy all season
long. Fruits and vegetables have
important vitamins, minerals, and fiber
that may help protect you from some
chronic diseases.
Eating contaminated foods and/or beverages causes foodborne illnesses. An estimated 76 million cases of foodborne illnesses occur each year in the U.S. Most of these cases are mild and cause symptoms for a day or two, but some can be more serious.
Tips for Healthy Sumer Cooking
- Always wash your hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling food.
- Refrigerate foods promptly.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure that food reaches a safe internal temperature.
- When charcoal grilling foods, preheat the coals for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the coals are lightly coated with ash.
- When taking foods off the grill, do not put cooked food items back on the same plate that previously held raw food.
For information on avoiding
and treating insect
stings, visit the Centers
for Disease Control
and Prevention at
www.cdc.gov and
search for “insect
stings.”
