It's Time for Tailgating!
Tackling a game day spread? Play by these rules and keep the runs on the field! Make sure your game day favorites are memorable for all the right reasons!
Pack the perishables, especially raw foods, separate from drinks and ready to eat foods.
Pack meats separately from raw fruits and vegetables to avoid cross-contamination.
Put mayonnaise and similar products on ice just before you leave for the stadium, and then place them in the cooler last, on top of the other items.
Pack just the food you need to minimize leftovers.
Make sure you have a food thermometer to test food temperature.
For more information and food tips, check out the publications below:
- Keep Food Safety in Mind When Tailgating
- Tailgating Tips: Be on the "Offense" Against Foodborne Illness
- Game Day Food Safety Tips
Food Safety
It is estimated that each year, roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases. Taking the time to keep your food safe is well worth it! It is very important to keep food safety on the top of your list when you are cooking or preserving.
CLEAN: Washing your hands and cleaning surfaces often will reduce the risk of bacteria spreading. Washing your hands and cleaning surfaces are especially important after handling raw meat.
SEPARATE: Cross contamination is described when pathogens are transferred from one surface to another. This occurs when ready to eat food such as fresh fruits and vegetables are cut on the same unwashed cutting board as raw meat.
COOK: Making sure that food is cooked to the correct internal temperature is incredibly important! Temping your food, especially meat, is critical to reduce foodborne illness.
CHILL: Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours to reduce bacteria growth (or 1 hour exposed to temperatures above 90°F). Make sure your refrigerator is set to 40°F or below and your freezer set to 0°F or below.
