Poison control experts have advice for how to avoid food poisoning at your Memorial Day BBQs and picnics.
“Forgetting about food safety is a recipe for disaster,” says Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “Don’t prepare food if you have any kind of respiratory illness or infection, as this puts your guests at risk of becoming ill. No matter how busy your kitchen gets during the holidays, always remember the risks of improperly handling food.”
Food poisoning peaks in the summer, because warmer temperatures allow foodborne germs to multiply quickly. “It’s important to remember the ‘danger zone’ as it pertains to food safety: The risk of food poisoning increases between 40°F and 140°F,” says Calello. “The effects of food poisoning can happen between a few hours to a few days after ingestion. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever.”…