Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Food Safety,Our Blog on August 26, 2024
Summer plans don’t have to be spoiled with a foodborne illness when you know how to pack a picnic properly. The best amusement park and beach picnic foods can be hard to decide on especially when you have picky children in tow but they don’t have to raise cause for concern.
For me food is a highlight of any outing. I am always planning ahead and often feel like I am thinking of the next meal before finishing the one we are currently having. I am such a foodie and enjoy making theme meals and making experiences memorable.
Bread
Most of us have a loaf of bread sitting in a cupboard or on the counter right now at room temperature, so you know they’re a safe option for a picnic. Not only are they a useful option in their own right — sometimes a roll, or a piece of bread and butter, is all you need to make your plate feel complete — but they also can be paired with many of the other foods discussed here, in varying combinations.
Bread, rolls and flatbreads can all be used to make sandwiches from the meats and vegetables you’ve brought along. Flatbreads, crackers and chips of various kinds can all be eaten with dips, or on their own as snacks. Any kind of bread, flatbread or cracker can also be paired with cheeses, meats, preserves, pickles or condiments to make up the portable equivalent of a charcuterie plate. How simple or sophisticated you make it is entirely up to you.
Bread and crackers pose no meaningful risks from the food safety perspective. The only potential “gotcha” is accidentally packing along a loaf that’s gone moldy, and those are easy to spot. Otherwise, any risk of illness comes from the foods you eat with your bread, rather than the bread itself.
Pickles and Preserves
Some of the safest options to bring along on a picnic are preserved foods of various kinds. Whether they’re marinated, pickled, brined, canned or packed in syrup, they’ve all been prepared for the specific purpose of remaining food safe for extended periods, which makes them perfect for picnics.
Aside from their durability, all of those foods bring a concentrated pop of flavor to your picnic. Pickles or a jar of marinated vegetables can brighten up a spread of salads, cold meats or sandwiches. Relishes and chutneys bring zest to trays of cold cuts, and fruit preserves make a fine dessert when spooned over sweet breads, biscuits or small cakes.
Remember though that home canned products do run the risk of botulism so you have to be careful when bringing those along for the picnic. If you choose to bring those make sure you have followed the proper canning techniques which we do talk about here on Make Food Safe.
Nuts, Dried Fruit & Trail Mix
You can’t go wrong with packaged nuts, dried fruits and trail mix. Not only are they easy to pack but also contain nutrients and a very low risk of foodborne illness. They are easy to spot when they go bad too due a rancid smell and taste.
Fungal toxins, most notably aflatoxins, are more of a concern. They won’t necessarily make you sick tomorrow, but they can attack your liver, cause cancer, and suppress your immune system. The answer to both threats is buying your nuts and trail mix from high-volume stores with lots of turnover, so they’re fresh.
Kids and adults alike love fresh fruit so that makes it a no brainer when packing a picnic. It is easy to prep the night before and also doesn’t weigh too much.
Any fruit that’s sturdy enough to stand up to being thrown into a bag is a good option for picnicking, from everyday apples and oranges to melons (because there’s nothing like a big ol’ watermelon on a hot day). Bananas and berries are relatively fragile, but you can bring them along successfully if you pack them carefully. Berries often benefit from being kept in a cooler, so they won’t spoil.
Most supermarkets sell veggie trays or platters that are all ready to come along to your favorite picnic spot, or you can make your own from what you have at home. Sticks of carrot, celery and cucumber, spears of sweet bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and florets of broccoli and cauliflower are all popular choices.
Your potential food safety risks with vegetables usually don’t stem from perishability in the heat. Instead, recalls on things like cucumbers or spinach usually stem from contamination during growing, harvesting or shipping. Washing them before peeling or cutting them up is a useful safety measure. Be sure to follow Make Food Safe to stay in the know about those recalls.
Not all cheeses are well suited to picnic-going, though. Fresh cheeses (ricotta, queso fresco and many others) are perishable in the summer heat, and are frequently the subject of recalls. They’re susceptible to contamination during production, or unfortunate failures of the cold chain during shipping can cause problems. You may even contaminate them yourself accidentally if you’ve been handling other foods, especially meats. You should wash your hands (and any utensils) before touching the cheeses. If you won’t have access to washing facilities, bringing hand sanitizer and spare utensils is a good idea.
The most reliable cheeses to picnic with are firm varieties that have been through some aging. They’re not nearly as perishable, and their firmer textures make them less susceptible to contamination. Think in terms of cheddar and Monterey Jack, Swiss, gouda, feta and others along those lines.
Canned, dried and other shelf-stable meats, fish and poultry can expand the range of foods you pack along to your picnic. Many canned meat or fish products can be served right from the can, as soon as they’re opened, and premium canned fish in particular can be a sophisticated adult option. The same holds true for jerky and other dried meat products, like prosciutto.
Canned meats and fish can also expand the range of lunch options available to you. Many people would hesitate to make up a mayonnaise-based salad or sandwich filling if they knew it would sit in a warm spot for hours, but taking along the ingredients and assembling it right at the picnic ground changes the equation. Your spreads and condiments will be fresh from the cooler, and the canned ingredient newly opened, so this is a safe option as long as your hands and utensils are clean (once again, having hand sanitizer or a hand-washing option is very helpful).
We hope you are enjoying every bit of what Summer has to offer this year! Be sure to stay hydrated and follow us for food safety and recall information.