Food Safety and Carry-along Lunch

When the economy is in a slump, up goes the number of  “brown baggers” carrying lunch to school and work.  The fact that these lunches aren’t consumed for about 4 hours after leaving home is a concern if there is no refrigeration available.   Food that  must be kept cold to prevent spoilage or food-borne illness should not be held at room temperature for more than 2 hours, and   that drops to only 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F.   However, “brown baggers” will be glad to know that there are ways to keep food safe without buying a refrigerator for the workplace or classroom. 
 
Source(s):

H.E.B. Foods
“Keeping the Brown Bag Safe”
 
American Dietetic Association
“Kids Deliver the Lunchbox Lowdown”
 
Cooperative Extension Service, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. “Bacterial food-borne illness”: Fact sheet No. 9.300.; Kendall, p. 2008.