Here are some tips from Safefood to help you to keep your food safe when away from the kitchen.
Keep it cool
It is essential that food is held at the appropriate temperature during preparation and transport, as warm temperatures can make your food an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
Cooked food needs to be chilled thoroughly in your fridge before you leave.
Use an insulated cool box/bag with enough ice or ice packs to keep the food chilled.
Take the food from the fridge at the last moment before you leave and then place it in the cool box/bag straight away.
Keep the cool box/bag in the coolest part of the car away from direct sunlight.
When you arrive, keep the cool box/bag out of the sun and keep the lid closed as much as you can.
If any perishable food has become warm it should not be eaten and should be disposed of carefully.
When travelling home if there is still ice left in the cool box/bag, and you are certain that any unused food has not been left out or warmed up, then it should be safe to bring it home
Cook it thoroughly
Chicken, pork, burgers, sausages and other meat that has been minced, skewered, or rolled should always be cooked the whole way through. This is because bacteria may be mixed throughout the meat, and not just be present on the outside, as with steak.
To check that the meat has been properly cooked all the way through, cut it in the middle with a clean knife to ensure that it is piping hot in the centre, there is no pink meat remaining and the juices run clear.
Prevent cross-contamination.
If you plan to barbecue, be sure to keep raw food completely separate from ready to eat food, such as sandwiches and salads.
Place any raw meat in sealed containers at the bottom of the cool box/bag, or in a separate bag if at all possible. This will prevent the spread of germs from meat juices to other foods.
Use separate plates and utensils for raw and ready to eat foods.
Wash your hands thoroughly before eating or drinking, or handling raw meat. If there is nowhere suitable to wash your hands bring antibacterial wipes or gel instead.
Do not put food directly on picnic tables or other outdoor surfaces, and do not allow it to touch the ground.
