YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health Summer 2019 | Page 18

THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF FOOD SAFETY (AIFS)
The AIFS is Australia’s leading provider of food safety education and training. Each year the
AIFS helps thousands of Australian organisations protect their customers and maintain food
safety compliance. To learn more visit www.foodsafety.com.au
FOOD SAFETY
THIS SUMMER
There’s no need to put your or your family’s health at risk this summer,
thanks to these safe food preparation tips from the AIFS.
he reliably warmer weather and
daylight savings create so
many great opportunities to get
outdoors during summer, which is why
alfresco breakfasts, lunchtime picnics
and evening BBQs are often the norm
during summer time.
T
You need to be mindful however, that
dining outdoors in the heat can
encourage bacteria to grow in food. And
this risk applies even if you are cooking
a meal indoors. Here are a few tips for
optimal food safety this summer.
Keep things clean
In summer, we tend to cook many
different foods and then take them
outdoors to enjoy. For sanitary reasons,
you need to keep everything clean from
the time you start cooking until you put
away the leftovers.
} } Wash your hands thoroughly and often.
} } Wash all utensils used for cooking,
before reusing them to serve foods.
} } Place foods in washed, airtight
containers before transporting them.
} } Always wash fruits and vegetables
before serving them raw.
and your family safe all summer long,
follow proper food safety precautions,
which includes keeping foods cool
enough, thoroughly washing surfaces
and utensils, and avoiding cross-
contamination.
Keep an eye on the
temperature
Taking food outdoors can cause
problems with temperature because
when food reaches the danger zone
(i.e. between 5°C and 60°C), it can
harbour bacteria. Therefore, if you
plan to eat outdoors, follow these
important guidelines:
• Always keep foods cold. That
may mean using a cooler full of
ice to store the food before
and after eating.
• Food should never be left out
for more than two hours before
refrigerating.
• Always throw out any foods
that have been left out for
more than two hours.
Don’t cross-contaminate
If you’re eating outdoors, it can be
tempting to pack all of your food together,
but this can be risky. All ready-to-eat and
raw foods should be kept separate, and
this is especially important if you are
taking raw meats to be cooked on
outdoor BBQs. Use two different coolers
to store ready-to-eat and raw foods.
Summer is often filled with outdoor
events and picnics, but always remember
that the warmer weather can bring with it,
serious food dangers. To help keep you
18
YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019
When you go grocery shopping,
you also need to keep the outdoor
temperatures in mind, so always try
to use a cooler bag. This will keep
the items cool and safe while you
shop, and then until you get home.
Promptly refrigerate the foods as
soon as you get home.