It’s that wonderful time of the year! No, not the holiday season, but summer! It’s finally warmer outside, the sun is shining, the pool is open, and there are so many fun memories waiting to be made. And one tradition I’m looking forward to this summer is heading out on a picnic.
But before you plan your next picnic, I wanted to share with you some tips for a healthy picnic, and we aren’t only talking about the food you’re serving. Here are six easy things to remember as you plan your next picnic gathering:
- Wash your hands before and while preparing food. One of the most important things you can do to reduce the spread of foodborne illness is to wash your hands before and while preparing your picnic meal. Washing your hands with PURELL® brand HEALTHY SOAP® gently washes away germs that can make you sick.
- Don’t leave food out in the sun. According to FoodSafety.gov, make sure all cooked food is stored in a cooler and kept under the shade until it’s time to eat.1
- Serve food on clean platters. Be sure not to use the same platter you used for your raw food; instead make sure you use always use new plates and utensils for serving the cooked food.1
- Either wash or sanitize your hands before eating. Be sure to have either PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer or PURELL® Hand Sanitizing Wipes on hand to quickly and easily clean and sanitize hands before enjoying your picnic feast.
- Disinfect and clean picnic tables before and after eating. Disinfecting and cleaning tables at your next picnic can help reduce the spread of germs. Select a product that kills germs quickly, but without any harsh chemicals like PURELL® Multi Surface Disinfectant.
- Refrigerate any leftovers. Unpack your cooler as soon as you arrive home and place all leftovers in the refrigerator. If they’re too warm by the time you get back, throw them out.1
For more tips on keeping your picnic healthy, read the article Perfect Food Safe Picnics
All the best for a fun, safe and healthy picnic and summer season!