- Registration Date 2016-07-05
- Hit 539
No matter where you find yourself on the Fourth of July, you will probably see lots of food, beverages
and grass-stained sneakers. Whether you’re enjoying a barbecue in the great outdoors, traveling to see
family or friends, or spending time at home, FSIS urges everyone to take extra food safety
precautions when planning their menu.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 6 Americans (that’s 48
million people) suffer from foodborne illness each year, resulting in roughly 128,000 hospitalizations
and 3,000 deaths.
“Because foodborne bacteria thrive and multiply more quickly in warmer temperatures, foodborne
illness can spike during summer,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Al Almanza. “This is
likely because people are spending more time outside ? away from the sink and equipment in the
kitchen that help consumers keep food safe.”
The Danger Zone is the temperature range between 40 °F and 140 °F in which foodborne bacteria can
grow rapidly to dangerous levels that can cause illness. Leaving perishables out too long in the Danger
Zone is one of the most common mistakes people make, especially during warmer months.
Keep Food Out of the Danger Zone
The USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline, staffed by USDA food safety experts, routinely gets calls from
consumers with questions about the perishable foods left out too long. Below are their
recommendations on how to steer clear of the Danger Zone this Fourth of July:
- Without refrigeration or a heat source, perishables should not be left out more than two hours if the
temperature is at or below 90 °F, and only one hour if the temperature is at or above 90°F. Since the
weather will likely be very hot on July 4th, food should be returned to the cooler within an hour. If you
are not sure how long food has been sitting out, throw it out immediately.
- Always keep cold food COLD, at or below 40 °F, in coolers or in containers with a cold source such as
ice or frozen gel packs. Keep hot food HOT, at or above 140 °F, on the grill or in insulated
containers, heated chafing dishes, warming trays and/or slow cookers. If food needs to be reheated,
reheat it to 165 °F.
- Pack an appliance thermometer in your cooler to ensure food stays at or below 40 °F. Divide large
amounts of food into shallow containers for fast chilling and easier use.
- Packing drinks in a separate cooler is strongly recommended, so the food cooler isn’t opened
frequently. Keep the cooler in the shade, and try to cover it with a blanket or tarp to keep it cool.
Replenish the ice if it melts.
- Use the food thermometer to check the internal temperature of cooked meat, poultry and seafood.
Use our Is It Done Yet? guide to learn where to place the thermometer in each item. You absolutely
can’t tell whether the meat is safely cooked by just looking.
- If you plan to marinate meat and/or poultry for several hours or overnight prior to the event, make
sure to marinate them in the refrigerator ? not on the counter. If you plan to reuse the marinade from
raw meat or poultry, make sure to boil it first to destroy any harmful bacteria.
- To ensure safety, leftovers must be put in shallow containers for quick cooling and refrigerated to
40 °F or below within two hours.
If you have food storage questions, download our FoodKeeper application. This application offers
guidance on the safe storage for more than 400 food and beverage items. It’ll give you a peace of
mind knowing you served your dish safely.
As always, FSIS would like everyone to remember the four easy food safety steps of Clean, Separate,
Cook and Chill and have a food safe Fourth of July.
If you have questions about the Danger Zone, or any other food safety topics, call the USDA Meat &
Poultry Hotline at 1-888MPHotline or chat live with a food safety specialist at AskKaren.gov. These
services are available from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, in English and Spanish.
Division
Written by RIsk Information Division