‘Tis the season for graduation parties! Be sure to include food safety as part of your plans. Events where food is often left out for long periods of time can leave the door open for uninvited guests—bacteria that can make people sick.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year 17,000 residents in Eau Claire County will become sick from consuming unsafe food. With warmer temperatures, foodborne illness rates increase in the summer. Warmer temperatures can cause the number of bacteria in food to double in as little as 20 minutes!
“By following 4 simple food safety steps – clean, separate, cook, and chill – you can protect your guests from getting a foodborne illness,” says Nicole Kragness, Regulation and Licensing Division Manager at the Eau Claire City-County Health Department.
