{"id":6520,"date":"2026-06-18T09:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T08:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/18\/6-rules-to-follow-to-avoid-picnic-health-hazards-this-summer\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T09:02:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T08:02:00","slug":"6-rules-to-follow-to-avoid-picnic-health-hazards-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/18\/6-rules-to-follow-to-avoid-picnic-health-hazards-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"6 rules to follow to avoid picnic health hazards this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-1ihz57b-0\" data-component=\"Newsletter\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"independent\">\n<div data-theme-wrapper=\"independent\" style=\"display:contents\">\n<aside class=\"sc-y4bm30-0 jwWhkK newsletter-component sc-1ge0fwe-0\" data-newsletter-key=\"receiveWellness\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-1 inRDZn\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-3\">\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-4 hfveGa\">\n<p><h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-6 fvoxRM cLEJmn\">Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-8 fvoxRM iTZFOX\">Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"sc-y4bm30-5 sc-y4bm30-7 fvoxRM iGYpOF\">Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 hKcUSR sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-1ix0cah-0 PYnPb sc-y4bm30-10 fUEDPX\"><use href=\"#600f53465147d717\"\/><\/svg><\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-y4bm30-2 kcLSBk sc-y4bm30-9 iQYNfz\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletters\/wellEnough1_1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Well Enough\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>With warmer weather forecast for the UK, many people\u2019s thoughts will be turning to summer pursuits \u2013 and what can be more summery than a picnic in the blazing sunshine?<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/weather.metoffice.gov.uk\/long-range-forecast\">Met Office<\/a> says by the end of June and for at least the first few weeks of July, temperatures are likely to be above average, with a greater than normal chance of hot conditions.<\/p>\n<p>But if you\u2019re thinking of taking the chance to dine al fresco, it shouldn\u2019t be a case of just shoving some sandwiches in a picnic hamper (or a plastic bag) and heading for the hills, as taking food out into the heat means it\u2019s more likely to attract bugs which can make you ill.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, \u00a0the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/food-standards-agency\">Food Standards Agency<\/a> (<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.food.gov.uk\">FSA<\/a>) estimates around 2.4 million cases of foodborne illness occur every year in the UK. And there\u2019s a spike in cases in the summer, warns the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/world-health-organisation\">World Health Organisation<\/a> (<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/europe\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/item\/public-health-advice-on-food-safety-during-summer\">WHO<\/a>), which says the chances of falling ill from contaminated food in summer increases because hot and humid weather helps germs multiply quickly.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CQjRuOBLYWB\/embed\/captioned\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"sc-wn0aau-1 dZPXBi\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>And contaminated foods may not appear, taste or smell any different from safe ones. So take care when you pack your picnic, advises Narriman Looch, head of food hygiene and foodborne disease control at the FSA.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPicnics are\u00a0a great way\u00a0to enjoy\u00a0the warmer weather, but food safety\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0be an afterthought,\u201d she warns.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy planning ahead, people can help make sure their food stays safe to eat and avoid the risk of illness. The main things to remember for good food hygiene are the 4Cs \u2013 cleaning, chilling, cooking and avoiding cross-contamination.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s Looch\u2019s advice for a safe picnic this summer\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Maintain good hand hygiene<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"4\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 ca-dLXz\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/18\/09\/18085236-8c901bab-2225-4e37-af5f-7029bd173896.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/18\/09\/18085236-8c901bab-2225-4e37-af5f-7029bd173896.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/18\/09\/18085236-8c901bab-2225-4e37-af5f-7029bd173896.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Hand sanitiser can help keep you safe while eating outdoors (Alamy\/PA)\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 YlsWU hgzWpY\">Hand sanitiser can help keep you safe while eating outdoors (Alamy\/PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Not washing hands before handling\u00a0or eating\u00a0food can\u00a0cause harmful bacteria to spread, warns Looch.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWash your hands before preparing your picnic and, where possible, before eating it,\u201d she advises.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf it\u2019s not possible to wash your hands at your picnic site, you can use hand sanitising wipes or gels to disinfect them before handling food. Using hand sanitiser kills most bacteria on your hands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Always wash fresh fruit, vegetables and salad leaves before a picnic<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Fruit,\u00a0veg\u00a0and salad leaves can carry harmful bacteria, pesticide residues or other contaminants that aren\u2019t visible to the naked eye, warns Looch.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMake sure to wash fresh fruits \u2013 including those with rinds \u2013 vegetables and salad leaves thoroughly under running tap water before packing them in the cool box,\u201d she advises.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Control food temperature<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"4\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 kppsKU\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/18\/09\/18084741-551620c6-81d3-4d96-aeac-06892b3924a7.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/18\/09\/18084741-551620c6-81d3-4d96-aeac-06892b3924a7.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/18\/09\/18084741-551620c6-81d3-4d96-aeac-06892b3924a7.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A cool box will help keep food at a safe temperature (Alamy\/PA)\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 YlsWU hgzWpY\">A cool box will help keep food at a safe temperature (Alamy\/PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Perishable foods need to be kept cool throughout a picnic, as without proper temperature management, bacteria can multiply to unsafe levels, increasing the risk of food poisoning.<\/p>\n<p>Looch says: \u201cThe time between preparing dishes and eating them tends to be longer than normal when\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0picnicking, so\u00a0plan ahead\u00a0to keep food cool until\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0ready to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She says food you\u2019d normally keep in the fridge at home also needs to be kept cool on a picnic, including any food with a use-by date, cooked dishes, prepared salads and sandwiches, dairy products, \u00a0ready-to-eat foods like dips or spreads, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages or quiches, children\u2019s picnic and lunchbox snacks, yoghurts, and pre-cut fruit and vegetables.<\/p>\n<p>She suggests placing such foods in a cool box or cool bag with ice or frozen gel packs, and advises: \u201cDistribute ice packs throughout the box or bag, not all at the bottom, \u00a0so all the contents can be kept cold. You can also use frozen drinks to help keep your cool box cold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to minimise the number of times the cool box is opened, as this helps to keep the contents cold for longer, she says. \u201cFor example, if you\u2019re using more than one cool box, pack perishable foods in one and drinks in another.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Take out cold food only as you need it, as this is not only safer, but will mean that any food not eaten is kept at the right temperature for later consumption.<\/p>\n<p>And if you can, leave the cool box\/food in a shady spot and out of direct sunlight to help keep it as chilled as possible, she suggests.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Store leftovers safely after a picnic<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CQjRuOBLYWB\/embed\/captioned\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"sc-wn0aau-1 dZPXBi\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Once food has been served and left out, time and temperature determine whether it\u2019s still safe to eat or should be thrown away, says Looch.<\/p>\n<p>So, after a picnic, put any leftover food back in the cool box to keep cool. \u201cIf you\u2019re out for less than four hours and the food still feels cool when you get home, you can put it back in your fridge,\u201d she advises.<\/p>\n<p>But after four hours or more at warm temperatures (8 \u00b0C and above), the risk from bacteria increases, and food may become unsafe to eat.<\/p>\n<p>She says: \u201cIn extremely hot weather, use food\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0been out of the fridge within two hours.\u00a0If the food temperature\u2019s reached 8\u00b0C or above, these foods should be discarded after four hours, unless refrigerated within four hours, or two hours in extreme heat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She suggests working out portion sizes for each picnicker, and only packing what\u2019s needed, can help reduce food waste.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Take extra care with vulnerable picnickers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DLB-dgePSU6\/embed\/captioned\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"sc-wn0aau-1 dZPXBi\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Looch warns that some people are at greater risk from food poisoning, and extra care should be taken when planning\u00a0their picnic.<\/p>\n<p>Vulnerable groups include young children (under five years), pregnant women and their unborn babies, older people, and people with an underlying health condition such as diabetes, liver disease, or cancer.<\/p>\n<p>Looch says: \u201cMany people mistakenly think food poisoning is just a passing tummy bug, \u00a0but it can be\u00a0very serious.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost people with food poisoning recover at home and\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0need any specific treatment, but some people are at increased risk of food poisoning and extra caution should be taken with what they eat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She explains that food poisoning can be caused by various bacteria including campylobacter, salmonella, listeria and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/topic\/ecoli\">E.coli<\/a>, and some foods, like soft mould- ripened cheeses, deli meat and smoked fish, have a higher risk of listeria.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Check people\u2019s food allergies and intolerances beforehand<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"4\" class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 doqsNi\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/18\/09\/18084946-05228c24-c148-4d9a-aea6-b0aafa1ff680.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/18\/09\/18084946-05228c24-c148-4d9a-aea6-b0aafa1ff680.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/18\/09\/18084946-05228c24-c148-4d9a-aea6-b0aafa1ff680.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"It\u2019s important to check food allergies before hosting a picnic (Alamy\/PA)\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 YlsWU hgzWpY\">It\u2019s important to check food allergies before hosting a picnic (Alamy\/PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Failing to check whether any guests have a food allergy or intolerance before preparing picnic food could have serious and potentially life-threatening consequences, Looch warns.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf someone\u2019s allergic to something and you\u2019ve served them a food they\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0eat, just taking it off their plate isn\u2019t enough,\u201d she explains, \u201cbecause an extremely small amount can be enough to cause an allergic reaction. It\u2019s important to take care when planning and preparing a meal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAsk and understand the steps to take if anyone has a food allergy, intolerance or suffers from coeliac disease before preparing food for people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>FSA advice on preparing an allergy-safe meal and avoiding cross-contamination of allergens is available <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.food.gov.uk\/safety-hygiene\/eating-in-and-preparing-an-allergy-safe-meal\">here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/life-style\/health-and-families\/world-health-organisation-food-standards-agency-met-office-e-coli-b2998161.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore With warmer weather forecast for the UK, many people\u2019s thoughts will be turning to summer pursuits \u2013 and what can be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2026\/06\/18\/09\/18084337-7dfeaf4d-65b0-4708-9c87-ed4154fabbe0.jpg?trim=0,0,0,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800","fifu_image_alt":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[1059,9803,9804,1463,1003,83,534],"class_list":["post-6520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-avoid","tag-follow","tag-hazards","tag-health","tag-picnic","tag-rules","tag-summer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6520\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}