Before setting out your picnic feast, ensure your hands and surfaces are clean.
Place cold food in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs. Cold food should be stored at 40°F or below to prevent bacterial growth. Meat, poultry, and seafood should be packed while frozen to stay colder longer.
Pack beverages in one cooler and perishable foods in another. This will prevent perishable foods from being exposed to warm outdoor temperatures.
Limit the times the cooler is opened to keep the contents cold longer.
Be sure to keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood securely wrapped. This keeps their juices from contaminating prepared and cooked foods or foods that will be eaten raw, such as fruits and vegetables.
Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under tap water before packing them in the cooler.
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