Tonia Reinhard, director of Wayne State University's Coordinated Program in Dietetics in the Department of Nutrition & Food Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, offers the following suggestions for keeping 4th of July picnics safe and healthy.

Safety: Food pathogens (microorganisms that make people sick) generally like room or warm temperatures, low acid, water, nutritious foods and the time to multiply. To prevent these microorganisms, Reinhard offers the following tips:

• Use iced coolers, check ice periodically; consider replacing ice during picnic if the temperature is high.
• Pack the cooler carefully, with most highly perishables closest to ice and farthest from lid.
• Avoid bringing certain types of foods if they'll not be consumed almost immediately. These foods include meat, ground meat (especially burger patties) and mixed salads that contain meat and/or eggs.
• Plan to only bring what you will eat at the picnic; don't plan to bring home leftovers, especially meats and other entrees.
• Myth about mayonnaise: mayonnaise is actually high in acid, so it keeps bacteria at bay. However, the foods it is typically used in, such as egg-based potato salad and macaroni salad, contain ingredients that are highly perishable, making them more susceptible to food pathogens.

Healthy Snacking: Reinhard offers suggestions for healthy picnic snacks:

• Quick finger foods (such as chips and candy) are poor choices. Counter these with:
o Lots of raw, well-washed cut vegetables. Be careful with dips, though, and keep them near the ice
o Fruits and fruit salads; - Berries - mix red, blue
o Hard cheeses
o Chopped vegetable salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing
o Whole grain pasta salad with vinegar oil dressing
o Whole grain pitas or tortillas
o Healthier baked goods, such as brownies made with mashed black beans as one ingredient

By making a few minor adjustments, 4th of July picnics can be healthy and safe.

Wayne State University is one of the nation's preeminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.