From produce to bug bites, here’s how to stay safe this summer
Posted on July 1, 2018
The McLean County Health Department says to always wash hands, produce, and surfaces to prevent food from contamination. (Facebook/McLean County Health Department)
By Ashley Antonini
BLOOMINGTON – Summer is now in full swing. As people tend their gardens and visit farmer’s markets, there are important things to remember to stay safe and healthy to enjoy these coming summer months.
McLean County Health Department’s Lisa Slater says this is especially important when dealing with produce. Slater says aside from washing your hands, make sure to wash all produce to avoid cross contamination.
“With fruits like watermelons or avocados,” said Slater, “something where you’re not going to be eating the outside skin, it is still really important to make sure that skin is clean. As you cut into it with a knife, you have the potential then of also bringing into the part of the food that you’re eating any contaminate that was on the surface.”
Slater adds that baking soda is a safe and effective way to clean produce, if needed. She also stressed that all leftover produce should be stored in an airtight bag in the refrigerator at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
While properly preparing produce is one way to stay safe this summer, so is protecting yourself from bug bites.
After a case of West Nile was discovered in Illinois, it is even more pressing to take precaution when it comes to mosquito bites. Slater says that the best way to do that is by utilizing the three R’s – Reduce, Repel, Report.
“You reduce the number of mosquito’s by really looking at your surroundings and saying ‘Am I doing everything I can to prevent being a breeding ground from mosquitoes?'” Slater said. “So if you have any of those containers that hold water and it has rained, you’re going to want to dump that water out.”
To repel mosquito’s make sure to use insect repellent when outdoors and wear clothing that covers exposed skin. To report mosquitoes, contact the McLean County Health Department about areas where water sits for more than a week and to report newly dead birds. To report either of these things, you can call the McLean County Health Department at (309) 888-5482.
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