Stay safe this summer

Eating outdoors is a great way to enjoy the good weather that summer brings. It also brings some added risks. The most common causes of food poisoning are:

• Undercooked foods
• Not storing foods at the correct temperature
• Not sufficiently reheating cooked food
• Leaving cooked food for too long in warm temperatures
• Handling food with unwashed / dirty hands

It is very important to remember these things when planning a summer picnic or barbeque to make sure no one becomes ill. Observe the following handy hints to prepare a safe and scrummy alfresco summer feast:

• Keep cold perishable food in a fridge or cool box until it's time to serve.
• Keep chilled food out of the fridge for the shortest possible time during preparation.
• Store raw meat separately from ready to eat food.
• Ensure all meat products are thoroughly cooked and piping hot before consumption.
• Do not leave food out for more than one-two hours in warm weather.
• Ensure hands are washed before handling food. When at a picnic use wet wipes and hand sanitizer if it's not possible to wash your hands.