Health Matters: Keep Food Safe During the Summer Season

Memorial Day is fast approaching, which also means plenty of barbeques and picnics to enjoy.

One in six Americans get sick each year from food poisoning and it happens more often in the summer.

But food poisoning doesn’t mean just an upset stomach.

In fact 3,000 people die every year from food poisoning, an important thing to keep in mind when grilling up that first steak of the season.
 
When it comes to food safety, it can be easy to overlook but not being careful can cost you.
 
“There are a lot of different kinds of bacteria that we have to worry about. We don’t necessarily know which ones are going to be associated with which types of food,” says Essentia Health Nurse Practitioner, Trevor Hausauer.
 
Bacteria multiples at a faster rate between 40 and 140 degrees.
 
“We need to either make sure our foods are staying colder than that or hotter than that so we can stay safe,” says Hausauer.
 
He says food should not be kept out any longer than two hours.

However, once above 90 degrees, food should not be out for longer than one hour.
 
“Once the food is out longer than that, then we need to seriously start thinking about throwing it away so we can be safe,” says Hausauer.
 
It can be a lot to remember, and that’s why Hausauer recommends downloading the food keeper app.

The app reminds people to follow a four step process starting with clean, separate, cook and cool.
 
“Some food poisonings start within a few hours but some we may not even notice until a few weeks later,” says says Hausauer.
 
However some people can be more at risk than others.

He says children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of sixty should be extra cautious.
 
“We have to think about the people with weakened immune systems so people with diabetes, immune can be compromised, depending on medications,” says Hausauer.
 
Hausauer says when it comes to cooking there are certain temperatures you want to follow.

If you’re cooking steaks, you should stick to 145 degrees.

For hamburgers or ground meats shoot for 160 degrees.

If you’re cooking poultry the temperature should be 165 degrees or higher.