Anyone preparing for a camping trip that involves outdoor cooking should include a meat thermometer with their camping gear, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says on its foodsafety.gov website.

Outdoor cooking is a prime breeding environment for harmful bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. But cooking food to the right internal temperature can help thwart these dangerous germs.

The agency suggests:

• Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb and veal steaks, chops and roasts to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cook all poultry, hot dogs and any leftover food to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Allow meat to sit for three minutes before carving or eating.
• Be sure to clean the meat thermometer between uses.

Source: HealthDay