Nothing says 4th of July like a good picnic! Red and white checkered table cloths, fireworks, grilling out, watermelon and potato salad come to mind. Unfortunately, many people end up with a food-borne illness after such events. Below are some tips for keeping your Organic Picnic Celebration healthful and safe.
- Wash produce thoroughly and use sanitary guidelines while preparing your picnic dishes.
- Wash hands before handling any food. If you handle unwashed items, wash your hands again before handling clean items.
- Don’t lick your fingers or touch your hair while preparing food. (Oh, and use a clean utensil for taste testing…and don’t double dip.)
- Use clean utensils and containers. (Don’t forget to bring extra utensils, in case they happen to fall on the ground at the picnic area.)
- Prepare hot foods just before leaving and make sure they are thoroughly cooked to prevent contamination or food-borne illnesses. If using a grill at a picnic area, be sure to clean the grill prior to use.
- Store food in refrigerator or cooler until ready to serve.
- Keep cold foods at or below 40F. (It helps if you transport your cooler in an air-conditioned vehicle and store the cooler in a shaded area, covered by a blanket until ready to serve.)
- Keep hot foods at or above 140F. (Some items can be kept warm on a lit grill or by using other equipment.)
- If cooking at the campsite, keep raw meats separate from prepared foods. (Oh, and please don’t put your cooked meat back on the same plate the raw meat touched.)
- Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
- If food is out for more than 2 hours, throw it away; in extremely hot weather, you might reduce this time limit to 30 minutes to an hour to be on the safe side.
- Cold water is not cold enough to prevent bacterial growth. If your ice has melted, pitch the food.
- Keep lids on containers except while serving.
- Keep the bugs away from your picnic (insects can carry harmful bacterias).
- What prevents flies? Basil and Bay Leaves or Cloves.
- What prevents mosquitoes? Citronella Candles (or mix some citronella essential oil in an apple cider vinegar and witch hazel mixture and use in a spray bottle: recipe here).
- What prevents ants? Tansy or Peppermint.
- I would recommend using a simple herb garden theme down the center of your table with citronella candles around the edges of the area.
- Bring plenty of clean water to drink.
- Don’t forget to pack hand sanitizer. If you want to make your own natural/organic hand sanitizer, check out the recipes below:
- Finally, don’t forget to follow proper safety precautions when near fireworks – even sparklers can be dangerous when used improperly.
Have a safe and happy 4th of July
from Milk and Honey Organics!