Food Safety at Tailgating

Soohyoun Ahn, Jessica A. Lepper, Amarat H. Simonne, and Keith R. Schneider

Release Date: 6/11/2023

Reviewed At: 9/25/2026

DOI: 10.32473/EDIS-FS256-2014

Family and Consumer Sciences

Abstract

While tailgating can be a great fun for family and friends, you need to make plans and take on-site precautions to keep your food safe during these events. Since refrigerators and running water are not always available for the events, you should familiarize yourself with the safe food handling practices for these outdoor events and plan ahead so you will be prepared with enough coolers/ice and all the tools you need to keep and cook your food safely. This fact sheet provides information on safe food practices for tailgating and other outdoor sporting events.

About this Publication

This document is FSHN14-10, one of a series of the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 2014. Revised October 2017, May 2022, and June 2023. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Soohyoun Ahn, assistant professor, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department; Jessica A. Lepper, food safety coordinator, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department; Amarat H. Simonne, professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences; and Keith R. Schneider, professor, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.