Guam News - Guam News

Guam - The Division of Environmental Health of the Department of Public Health and Social Services would like to encourage each and every one of us to observe food safety practices during the summer celebration meals, picnics and dinner festivities.
Many people in Guam will be cooking out, enjoying picnics, and handling foods in celebration of the Fourth of July and Liberation Day. So to ensure a pleasant cookout for all, it is important to follow these simple guidelines for grilling food safely to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and causing food-borne illness:

•       Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.

•       Always marinate foods in the refrigerator, not on the counter or outdoors. Don't use sauce that was used to marinate raw meat or poultry on cooked food. Boil used marinade
before applying to cooked food or reserve a portion of the unused marinade to use as a sauce.

•        When grilling foods, preheat the coals on your grill for 20 or 30 minutes, or until the coals are lightly coated with ash.

•       If you partially cook food in the microwave, oven or stove to reduce grilling time, do so immediately before the food goes on the hot grill.

•       When it's time to grill the food, cook it to a safe internal temperature. Use a food thermometer to be sure. The food thermometer should be placed in the thickest part of the
meat and should not be touching bone, fat, or gristle. Check the temperature in several places to make sure the food is evenly heated.

*       Beef, veal and lamb steaks and roasts: 145°F for medium rare and 160°F for medium.
*       Ground pork and ground beef: 160°F.
*       Poultry: to at least 165°F.
*       Fin fish: 145°F or until the flesh is opaque and separates easily with a fork.
*       Shrimp, lobster and crabs: The meat should be pearly and opaque.
*       Clams, oysters and mussels: Until the shells are open.

•       Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs. Be sure to have plenty of clean utensils and platters on hand.

•       Grilled food can be kept hot until serving by moving it to the side of the grill rack, just away from the coals to avoid overcooking.

•       Never let raw meat, poultry, eggs, cooked food or cut fresh fruits or vegetables sit at room temperature for more than two hours before putting them in the refrigerator or
freezer (one hour when the temperature is above 90 °F).

If you have more questions or concerns about food safety, contact the Division of Environmental Health, at 735-7221.

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