Contact Us Home Summer Time Cookout Safety Memorial Day cookouts are the first sign of summer's grilling season. Whether you are cooking meat or poultry, use a food thermometer to be sure it s grilled to a safe temperature. Statistics show that cases of food borne illness normally rise during the summer.
Bacteria grow faster in the warm summer months.
Raw meat and poultry can contain harmful microorganisms capable of causing food borne illness. Using a food thermometer is the only way to tell if food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy harmful bacteria and if it's the recommended doneness. However, research shows that less than half the population even owns a food thermometer. And only three percent use one when cooking hamburgers at home. It's very important when grilling outdoors during the warm summer months to fully cook meat products.