Staff Report

Approximately 61% to 68% of Americans typically plan to grill, cook out, or attend a barbecue on the Fourth of July. This makes Independence Day the most popular holiday of the year for outdoor cooking in the United States. If you will be among that group of Americans, just remember, as the meat sizzles, don’t let your food safety practices fizzle. By handling and preparing food safely, you are helping ensure you, your friends, and your family avoid unwelcomed foodborne illnesses. When preparing food, always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Hand sanitizer is not as effective as handwashing, but it’s better than nothing. So, if you don’t have access to running water, use hand sanitizer. Another risk we often take when grilling is crosscontamination. Any utensils and cutting boards that contacted raw meat must be cleaned. Use separate plates for taking raw meat to the grill and then pulling cooked meat off the grill. The USDA recommends using separate cutting boards; one for meat, and another for fruits and vegetables.