Idaho summers are full of sunshine, warm temperatures, and long days. That means it is more likely you will be cooking and eating outdoors, whether you are backcountry camping, whitewater rafting or enjoying a family picnic in a local park. That presents some food safety challenges. As food heats up in the warm temperatures, bacteria multiply faster and could make you sick if your food isn’t handled properly.
What are the main culprits for foodborne illness when eating outdoors?
We’re talking about communicable diseases like salmonella, norovirus, E. coli and other gastrointestinal illnesses that can be caused by improperly storing, cooking or serving food, and then can spread rapidly in a group that is sharing close quarters or eating together and not practicing good hygiene and safe food handling.
What are some of the symptoms of those diseases?
For most people, symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting and diarrhea, but in some cases, life-threatening complications like organ failure can occur. Young children, pregnant women, adults over 65, and people with weak immune systems are more likely to get food poisoning, and if they do get sick they might have more severe symptoms. Continue reading “As summer heats up, stay healthy by keeping your food safe in the outdoors”
Today we’re talking about food poisoning, and a serious increase in STEC cases in Southwest Idaho – What the heck is STEC? 
Summer in Idaho means sunshine, warm weather and long days, with lots of opportunities to cook and eat outdoors, whether you are backcountry camping, whitewater rafting or enjoying a family picnic in the local park. But as food heats up in the warm weather months, bacteria multiply faster, creating a risk of foodborne illness. So, we thought it was a good time to talk about safe food handling when cooking or eating outdoors. 
Holiday parties will offer a tempting array of goodies this winter, but it’s important to remember the basic food safety rules, both as a guest and as a host. Nearly 1 in 6 Americans (or about 48 million) get sick each year from contaminated food, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reducing that number by just 10 percent would keep nearly 5 million people from getting sick each year. 
Idaho experienced one of the harshest winters on record and this spring has been unseasonably soggy, but Memorial Day weekend has finally arrived as the unofficial start to the summer season. As you get ready to hit the road, pack coolers for picnics and camping trips, and enjoy the sun, water and great outdoors, here are some health and safety reminders so you and your family have an enjoyable summer. 
DHW Voice 