Texas Heat + Outdoor Cookouts: Summer Food Safety Reminder

Celebrate Safely: Summer Food Safety Tips

July 1, 2026 – (Tarrant County) – With high temperatures and many Independence Day celebrations taking place outdoors, Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) reminds residents that safe food handling is essential to preventing foodborne illness during summer gatherings.

Warm weather provides ideal conditions for harmful bacteria to grow quickly in food, making proper preparation and storage especially important. Keep your outdoor barbecues and picnics safe from prep to storage by following these tips:

• Clean: Wash hands with soap and water before handling food and after touching raw meat or seafood. Clean utensils, cutting boards and disinfect food preparation surfaces often.
• Separate: Keep raw meat and seafood—and their juices—away from ready‑to‑eat foods. Use separate plates and utensils for raw and cooked items.
• Cook: Don't rely on color alone. A food thermometer will ensure meat is cooked to a safe temperature. Poultry – 165⁰, Ground Meats⁰  – 155⁰, Whole Meat and Fish – 145⁰.
• Chill: Refrigerate perishable foods within two hours, or within one hour if outdoor temperatures are over 90°. Properly stored leftovers can be kept for up to seven days.

If you're celebrating outdoors, remember to:

• Keep coolers out of direct sunlight and open them only when necessary.
• Divide large portions into smaller containers so food cools more quickly.
• When in doubt, throw it out. If you're unsure how long food has been sitting, don’t eat it.

An estimated 48 million people in the U.S. become ill from foodborne diseases each year. Most recover within a few days after experiencing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever, but young children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and the immune-compromised face higher risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

As you gather and celebrate this summer, these tips go a long way toward making sure the only thing guests take home is leftovers stored safely.

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