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PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
|Clifton R. Lacy, M.D. |
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TRENTON – Everyone knows to wash their hands before preparing food and not to have individuals with gastrointestinal illnesses involved in food preparation. But what some people may not know is how long food can remain outdoors in hot weather before it risks health.
Food should only remain in temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for up to one hour. If summer temperature is below 90 degrees Fahrenheit, food should only remain outside for up to two hours.
Hot summer days are perfect for barbecues and picnics. But the warm temperatures also provide ideal growing conditions for the bacteria and viruses that cause food borne illness.
To make sure your next summer gathering is a safe one, Commissioner of Health and Senior Services Clifton R. Lacy, M.D. reminds New Jersey residents to take a few simple steps to reduce the risk of food borne illness.
“In the summer, it is especially important to follow safe food handling practices. Harmful organisms can grow quickly when foods are in hot environments for extended periods,” Commissioner Lacy said. “Keep perishable foods stored at proper temperatures, whether in the refrigerator or in a cooler filled with ice. And when you cook meats and poultry, make certain to to cook them thoroughly.”
Some 76 million Americans get sick, more than 320,000 are hospitalized, and 5,000 die each year from food borne illnesses, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common infections are those caused by Campylobacter, Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 – organisms that are found in animals. Norovirus, another common cause of illness, is spread person-to-person, and is not found in animals.
Food borne illnesses can cause fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and dehydration. In some cases, they can cause more serious health problems, even death. For example, infection with E. coli O157:H7 can cause severe, bloody diarrhea, kidney failure, other severe complications and death.
The Department of Health and Senior Services offers these suggestions for reducing the risk of food borne illnesses:
For more information on summer food safety, visit the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site, http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety.
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Department of Health
P. O. Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360