Did you know that each year roughly one out of six Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 Americans are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases? As picnic season begins, don’t let the uninvited guest of a foodborne illness ruin your outing! Enjoying a picnic during a beautiful summer day is a great way to socialize with friends and family, but don’t forget to remember these tips to make your day fun and safe.

• Wash your hands! Half of all food-borne illness can be eliminated by proper hand-washing. It’s never too early to start teaching children how to wash their hands correctly, too. Hands should be washed in warm water with soap before cooking foods and after handling raw meat, seafood and poultry. Hands should be washed for 20 seconds, or the same time it takes you to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice. And don’t forget to wash your cooking surfaces and replace your dishcloths and sponges on a regular basis.

• Keep raw meats and ready-to-eat foods separate. Be sure to place your raw meat on the bottom shelf in your refrigerator and below any ready-to-eat foods such as fruits and vegetables. Also, remember to use a clean serving dish and utensil for any cooked meats that you are serving to your family and friends. When dining outside, be sure to bring two coolers with you. Use one for raw meats and the ready-to-eat foods in the other.