With many people wanting to cook out to celebrate during the summer months, there are a few things that need to be kept in mind.

Guthrie County Health Services Director Jotham Arber says that when grilling, preparing the meal correctly is important. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio where food related illnesses rank in called in concerns during this time of year.

“When we’re thinking about foodborne illness, that’s probably the number one thing that gets reported during this time of the year. When we are having these cookouts, the most important thing that we want to remember is that when we are cooking things, we want to get them to the right temperature.”

Arber explains that knowing what temperature to get foods to when cooking helps lessen chances of illness, especially when preparing meats. He adds that making sure prep stations and that our hands are clean when switching between the item being prepared is also important, as transfer of some bacteria takes place, especially after handling meats.