Summer Food Safety Tips

Summer is the time for eating outdoors, having picnics and cookouts, and making dinner on the grill.  While having a cookout or potluck party is a great way to bring friends and family together during the summer, it is important not to ignore food safety.  In the summer, the weather is warmer and more humid, creating a more dangerous environment for perishable food.  Food borne illness is concern for people of all ages, but it can be very dangerous for elderly adults because of their weakened immune systems.  These illnesses can be more sever and serious in senior adults and come with more complications.  However, this does not mean that elderly loved ones can’t get in on the fun of outdoor picnics and celebrations.  By following a few simple food safety guidelines, family caregivers can ensure that their loved one will have a safe and happy summer.

Read on for some helpful tips for summer food safety. 

Watch the Clock Perishable food can be left out of the refrigerator for about 2 hours before bacteria can begin to grow.  In the summer when the weather is warmer, however, 1 hour is more accurate.  When at a party, be sure that your senior loved one make a plate and eats their meal shortly after the food is set out.  If the food is left out at a party for more than one hour (especially an outdoor party), it is best avoided.  Help to cut down on bacteria and food waste by helping to wrap up and refrigerate food after that one hour window of time.

Wash Hands Bacteria from unwashed hands can easily spread to food and cause food borne illness.  If you are serving or preparing food, be sure to practice good hand washing or take it a step further and wear food-serving gloves.  Wash hands after using the bathroom and after handling raw meat.  In addition, it is also important to wash any cutting boards, dishes, or utensils you will be using to serve the food.

Keep Meat Safe Grilled meats such as hamburgers, chicken breasts, kabobs, ribs, and more are summer favorites and often cookout staples.  To keep meats safe, thaw frozen meats overnight in the refrigerator before serving, make sure the raw meat goes directly from the refrigerator to the grill, and eat hot foods while they are still hot.  In addition, never marinate meats on the counter at room temperature, do this in the refrigerator instead.

If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home Senior Care Services in Pound Ridge NY, please contact the caring staff at Fairfield Family Care today.