According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 6 Americans get sick from eating contaminated food each year. TRICARE wants to help you practice food safety this summer.
Food poisoning peaks in the summer months because warmer temperatures cause foodborne germs to grow. There are several things you can do to prevent illness in your family and friends.
First, wash your hands often when handling raw meat. Dirty hands and surfaces used to prep your meat can carry germs. So keep your hands and your prep area clean.
Next, clean your grill and your grilling utensils with a moist cloth or paper towel. If you use a wire bristle brush, check the grill after cleaning it. The brush bristles can come off and stick into food along with all the germs you thought you were cleaning off.
Throw away all meat marinades and sauces and don’t re-use them. Raw meat juices can spread germs to cooked food. Also, put cooked food on clean plates and store different food separately. Meats need to be kept hot until served but grilled veggies keep well once they have cooled.
Check out the CDC’s website for more information on food safety when grilling. If you feel sick after eating grilled foods, contact your provider or visit your nearest urgent care center
