Summertime means camping, picnics, and barbecues. It also means consumers need to be aware that many of the items on the menu require some extra precaution before eating. The Oregon Department of Agriculture is offering a few common-sense tips on how to enjoy the summer and all the foods so popular during the season.
Food safety is a year around concern.
But there are some good reasons to be even a little more aware when the weather brings folks outdoors. We are going to have a lot of picnics, barbecues, and camping trips. So there will be some different methods of preparing food. First of all, many of those doing the cooking this time of year are seasonal chefs and may not always be food safety savvy. Proper handling, preparation, and storage of food is often more problematic when it is cooked and consumed outdoors, even though most of the same rules apply for both outdoor and indoor food safety.