Food Safety for Fall Outings

Oct 04, 2016

Marianne Gravely, MS, Technical Information Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA

The weather has cooled off and the sky seems a little brighter. Fall is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors with friends and family. Whether it’s a trip to the farm to pick apples or pumpkins, a hike, or picnic, you’ll probably be bringing some food with you. Here are some food safety tips to keep you from bringing foodborne illness home with you.

If you’ll be traveling to a location with no running water, pack disposable hand wipes or hand sanitizer so everyone can wash their hands before and after eating. Disposable wipes and hand sanitizer are also essential if you are picking fruits or vegetables. Wash apples under running water before you eat them. Pack a bottle of water and paper towels in case you want to eat some of your freshly picked fruit. Never eat apples that have fallen from the tree.

When packing foods for your trip, keep meat and poultry separate from fruits, vegetables, and other foods that will not be cooked. Pack perishable foods in a cooler or insulated container with ice or reusable cold sources or gel packs. If you will be cooking on your outing don’t put the cooked foods on the same dish that held the raw meat. It’s probably safest to discard any leftovers in case the ice or cold sources have melted.

Pack an extra bag so that you can carry your trash out with you in case you are in an isolated area.

If you have additional food safety questions, call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or chat live with a food safety specialist at AskKaren.gov available from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, in English or Spanish. You can also follow@USDAFoodSafety on Twitter to receive daily tips and information on recalled food.