Food Safety Education Month
Food Safety at Tailgates
Prevent foodborne illness from becoming part of your
tailgate by incorporating food safety into your game celebration. In
celebration of Food Safety Month, the Coles County Health Department
would like to remind you to follow a few simple rules to keep your food
safe. Enjoy your tailgate by providing safe food using these food safety
tips:
-
Think ahead when packing for a tailgate. Bring
enough ice to keep coolers below 40F until food is gone or food is
returned to refrigerator.
-
Do not use the color of the meat to determine proper
cooking; meat that has changed to a “cooked” color may not have
reached the proper temperature to kill harmful bacteria. Use a metal
stem thermometer to check temperature of cooked food. View the
updated temperature chart for
safe cooking temperatures.
-
Wash hands before handling food. Tossing around a
football, petting the dog, or setting up a tent will leave hands
dirty. Remember to wash hands after touching uncooked meat, sneezing
or coughing, or handling garbage.
-
Use a clean platter for serving cooked meat (since
raw meat juices can contaminate cooked products).
-
Don’t forget cleaning supplies! Pack liquid soap,
plenty of of water, and paper towels for washing hands on site.
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