Summer is prime time for food poisoning

WASHINGTON — One in six Americans will get food poisoning this year. And while it is common in all seasons, the risk is greater in the summer.

When the weather is warm, many people tend to dine outside, where the sun and heat can turn food into a breeding ground for nasty bacteria. At this time of year, the food safety rules of the colder months no longer apply.

The usual rule of thumb — the one always heard around Thanksgiving — is that once food has been sitting out for two hours, it needs to be refrigerated or thrown out. But summer is different.

“If the food is in heat, or is sitting in the sun or in temperatures higher than 90 degrees, that two hours is now decreased to one hour,” said Dr. Linda Nordeman, medical director of the emergency department at Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital.

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