A recent American Meat Institute Foundation survey found that the temperature of refrigerated food rises approximately eight to 10 degrees Fahrenheit during a typical summer trip home from the grocery store. The survey also found that for those consumers who had long transportation times with high transportation temperatures, product temperatures could increase as much as 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Use the following Fight BAC!® tips to keep cold foods cold during summer's hot days:

• When shopping, select refrigerated and frozen items last.
• At the grocery store, pack cold foods together in paper bags. Paper bags keep foods colder than plastic bags.
• Make the grocery store your last stop before going home.
• If you have a long distance to travel from the grocery store, take a cooler and ice packs in your car to transport perishable products. If a cooler is not practical, place perishable foods near the air conditioning vents.