Picnic season is here! Before you pack the cooler and grab your blanket, it’s a good idea to brush up on picnic safety so your summer stays fun, festive and hazard-free.

Packing Your Picnic

Remember two key guidelines for safely packing a picnic: Separate raw meats from the rest of your food and keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot.

• Store raw meat, poultry and seafood in a separate cooler or securely wrapped so that their juices don’t contaminate other foods.

• Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before packing them, even if they have skins and rinds that aren’t eaten.

• Make sure your cooler has enough ice or cold packs to keep perishable foods at a temperature below 40 degrees. Place your cooler in the shade at the picnic site. Keep cold foods inside the cooler until it’s time to serve the picnic.

• Pack beverages in a separate cooler. That way, people can open it frequently without exposing perishable foods to warmer temperatures.

• Keep fully cooked hot foods at or above 140 degrees by using warmer trays or a crockpot. Grilled food can be kept hot until it’s served by moving it to the side of the grill rack, just away from the coals.

Serving Your Picnic Foods

No one wants dirt and germs to join the meal, so be sure to set food out on clean tables. And watch the time.

• Use disinfectant cleaning wipes or a spray cleaner and paper towels to clean the picnic table and other surfaces before unpacking your food, plates and serving items.

• Clean your hands, too. If the picnic site has no running water, you can use disposable moist towelettes or bring a water jug, soap and paper towels for hand-washing.

• Always use clean utensils and serving dishes for prepared foods. Never serve food with utensils that were used for raw meat, poultry or seafood unless they have been thoroughly washed.

• Follow the two-hour rule. Never let cold perishable foods or hot foods remain at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees for more than two hours (one hour if the outdoor temperature is above 90 degrees).

• Chill leftovers quickly.

Staying Safe Outdoors

Whenever you’re outdoors, protect yourself from insect bites and the harmful effects of the sun’s rays.

• Apply bug repellents on your exposed skin that are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

• Enjoy your picnic activities in the shade when possible, particularly between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Wear sunglasses with UV protection.

• Wear sunscreen that filters out both UVA and UVB rays and has an SPF of 30 or higher.

• Bring a first aid kit.

Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ohio Department of Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Food and Drug Administration