Food left out at cookout can create risk of food poisoning

Having a picnic or cookout at a park or a beach is a great summer tradition, but the warm weather means bacteria can quickly take over your food.Consumer Reports has some essential reminders to keep food poisoning off your summer menu."Bacteria love hot and humid summer weather, making it the perfect time of year for harmful bacteria to multiply on food quickly," said James Rogers, food safety researcher and tester for Consumer Reports. "And when this happens, someone eating the food can get sick."More people get food poisoning in the summer than at any other time. Consumer Reports has a few tips for having a safer summer picnic.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<First, prep and store your food and coolers the night before. Fill the coolers with ice to lower the temperature, and keep all your food refrigerated until it's time to leave. Then, pack it full. Do not leave any open space. Put new ice or ice packs on top.If you're driving far, try to keep food in the air-conditioned part of your car, not the trunk, where temperatures are higher.Stash your cooler in a shady spot when you get to the party. Pack a separate cooler just for drinks so the lid on the food cooler stays closed longer."If you are setting the food out for guests to serve themselves, think about putting cold salads and side dishes inside a larger bowl filled with ice," Rogers said.While you may already be wary of dishes containing mayo or dairy on a hot day, it's important that all food not stay out of the cooler for more than two hours – or one hour if the temperature is over 90 degrees.Don't be tempted to partially cook meat at home. Consumer Reports says half-cooked meat can be warm enough to encourage bacteria to grow, not to kill it. Your best bet is to grill at the party and use a meat thermometer, so you know it has reached a safe temperature.