Don’t give bacteria a sporting chance at your next football tailgate party.
Food and football have long been paired.
In fact, football fields are called “grid-irons” after a grate used for grilling food.
Keeping food safe at parties takes a team effort.
The Food Safety Inspection Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers four simple rules to keep your party safe:
• Clean. Wash hands and surfaces often.
• Separate. Separate raw meat and poultry from cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination.
• Cook. Use a food thermometer to ensure raw meat and poultry are cooked to a safe internal temperature to destroy harm-ful bacteria that may be present.
• Chill. Store leftovers in the cooler within two hours of taking food off of the grill. When the temperature is above 90° Fahrenheit, store food within one hour.
Following the four food safety steps will ensure all tailgaters enjoy safe food.
