Ralphs Grocery Company Reminds Customers to Chill, Clean, Separate and Cook
As Summer Grilling Season Approaches, Easy Food Safety Steps Are Key
LOS ANGELES, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- As the summer grilling season approaches, Ralphs Grocery Company is reminding customers about the four keys to safe grilling: Chill, Clean, Separate and Cook:
CHILL: Keep cold foods cold
Use a cooler or chill bag to keep meat cold on the way home.
Set refrigerators to 40 degrees F.
Thaw meat in the refrigerator.
CLEAN: Wash kitchen surfaces often
Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling food.
Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils often.
SEPARATE: Don't cross-contaminate
Separate fresh meat from other food.
Keep cutting boards and utensils separate to prevent spreading germs.
Place cooked food on a clean plate.
COOK: Cook to a safe temperature
Use a food thermometer every time you cook fresh meat.
Cook ground beef and pork to 160 degrees F to ensure it's safe and delicious.
"Grilling out with family and friends is a terrific summer pastime we can all enjoy. At Ralphs, we are partnering with our customers to remind them to follow these easy food safety tips so that every cookout is a success," said Brian Piedmont, vice president of Ralphs' meat and seafood departments.
For more information about fresh meat and food safety, Ralphs invites customers to visit: www.ralphs.com/safefood.
Ralphs Grocery Company was founded in 1873 and currently operates more than 260 supermarkets from its headquarters in Los Angeles. The company is a division of The Kroger Co., (NYSE: KR), one of the nation's largest food retailers, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information about Ralphs, please visit our website at www.ralphs.com.
