When eating outside while traveling or picnicking away from home, it's important to take along the basic food safety necessities and follow these helpful tips:

• Soap and water are essential to cleanliness. But if running warm water for hand washing is not available, disposable wipes or hand cleanser will do. Clean your hands before and after handling food.
• Bring water for drinking or mixing with food.
• Take foods in the smallest quantity needed – pack only the amount of food you think you'll use. Consider taking along non-perishable foods and snacks that don't need to be refrigerated.
• Pack foods in your cooler in reverse-use order – pack foods first that you are likely to use last. Pack plenty of ice or freezer packs to ensure a constant cold temperature.
• When traveling, transport the cooler in the air-conditioned passenger compartment of your car, rather than in a hot trunk. Keep the cooler out of direct sun. At the picnic or campsite keep your cooler covered with a blanket or tarp.
• Don't let food sit out for more than two hours. On a hot day (90º F or higher), reduce this time to one hour.
• Bring a food thermometer in your grilling supplies. Use it to make sure meat and poultry have reached a safe temperature.
• When the picnic is over, discard all perishable foods if there is no longer sufficient ice in the cooler or if gel packs are no longer frozen.

Resources
If you have more questions or concerns about food safety, contact:

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854). The TTY number for the hearing impaired is 800-256-7072. Or visit www.fsis.usda.gov.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Information Line at 888-SAFE-FOOD. Or visit online at www.cfsan.fda.gov.