Mass Food Poisoning Is on the Rise at Weddings—Here’s How to Guarantee Food Safety at Your Summer Celebration

You can already picture it: Your wedding night takes place on a warm summer evening, filled with flowers, twinkling lights, and your loved ones enjoying the delicious food you’ve carefully selected. Everything goes off without a hitch—until the shellfish gets someone sick. In all of your perfect day-of daydreams, food poisoning certainly does not factor in. In fact, visions of your guests racing to the bathroom is the stuff of nightmares.

Unfortunately, cases of food poisoning at weddings are on the rise globally, and things only get riskier as the season swells and temperatures rise. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have the romantic garden party or rustic beach wedding you’ve always envisioned, complete with the menu you really want—you just need to be informed and prepared. “Hosting an event outdoors in the heat poses challenges, and you need to be thoughtful and intentional with what you choose to serve,” affirms Rachel Behar, a wedding planner. The best way to do that is by becoming well-versed in food safety—and hiring a skilled caterer.

Even if your summer wedding reception is inside with the air conditioning pumping, there are food safety questions you should ask, details your caterers should know, and foods you should completely avoid for a safe and healthy warm-weather wedding. That’s why we’ve consulted a cadre of caterers with years of experience to lend their sage advice when it comes to foolproof wedding food safety. 

What Causes Food Poisoning at Weddings?

Risky food environments are borne from a surprising number of sources, including the most obvious culprits. “Proteins like fish, shellfish, and fried chicken are particularly vulnerable to quickly landing in the danger zone of above 41 degrees and below 140 degrees Fahrenheit when it’s hot outside,” says caterer Leslie Nilsson. Dishes with eggs, homemade mayonnaise, milk, custards, and pudding can also be issues during the summer if not on ice or handled properly, notes caterer Sharon Richardson. When possible, pasteurized options are much safer. 

Methods of preparation and serving can also pose problems. “Food prepared early and left out for more than four hours and brought to the event to be reheated and served, using leftovers (a high-level no-no), cross-contamination with serving utensils, improper food handling, including over-stirring, and even double dipping can cause food poisoning, especially during the summer,” says Richardson. 

The Basics of Food Safety at Weddings

If deviled eggs or crab legs were at the top of your wedding must-have list, have no fear. You can absolutely have the food you've always craved at your wedding. “As long as the proper steps are taken and the food being showcased is on ice, anything can be served,” Behar says. That being said, there are some food safety basics you (and your caterer) should know about.

Especially if your event takes place during summer, being prepared with the day’s weather conditions will set you up for success. “It’s very important to know how to treat the food if there is going to be rain, high temperatures, or wind. This will affect the heating elements used to keep the food at the proper temperature,” says Richardson. 

As for the food itself, certain temperatures must be kept. “Food must maintain a temperature at or below 40 degrees for ‘room temperature’ or chilled foods like shrimp cocktail and oysters. Hot food must remain at 140 degrees or higher,” says Nilsson. And it can only be left out for so long for it to be deemed safe. “There is a window of two hours that food can be served out of temperature on an hors d’oeuvres table or buffet,” Nilsson adds. 

Post-wedding food safety should also be considered. There’s a reason you don’t see leftovers being taken home at weddings. “What a lot of clients don’t realize when they ask for leftover food is that it is no longer safe and should not be eaten, especially if they’re going to keep it out of safe temperatures while traveling home or to their hotels after the event,” says Nilsson. To be safe, don’t bring any food home outside of the traditional slice of wedding cake for your freezer. 

Wedding Caterer Certifications to Look for 

Wedding food safety ultimately comes down to your caterer, which is why it’s absolutely essential that they’re qualified. Your chef should possess a food handler’s license or their state’s equivalent. Any additional up-to-date certifications are obviously more than welcome. “Certifications like MWBE are great because they allow me to be a part of the vendor system in New York City,” says caterer Sharon Richardson. Because they must be maintained, they offer an extra sense of security for couples. 

In addition to certifications, years in the industry speak to a caterer’s capabilities. “Experience is the best indicator of safety,” says Nilsson. Recommendations also provide further proof of a caterer’s safety skills. “In addition to qualifications, reference letters from corporations, private events, and event shows will speak to their experience in the quality of food and service,” Richardson adds.

Food Safety Questions to Ask Your Caterer Before Your Summer Wedding

A high-quality caterer will not only acknowledge any concerns you might have,  but encourage you to voice them. When it comes to the health and safety of your loved ones, no question is too silly or unimportant. Transportation of the food to the venue is one of the riskier elements, so check with your caterer about their method. “We own refrigerated trucks, which is particularly important for summer events,” says Nilsson. “Some caterers rent a U-Haul or similar unrefrigerated vehicle and don’t realize their catering creations are in danger of health hazards. If a caterer doesn’t have access to such vehicles, ask if they deliver their food either on ice in coolers or in cambros that keep the food warm to 140 degrees and above for the travel time,” says Nilsson. According to both Richardson and Nilsson, other pertinent questions to ask may include the following:

• How is the food purchased and stored?
• How is the food prepared, and how early is it seasoned?
• Where is the food prepared?
• What time should warm-up begin before serving at the event?
• What utensils are used to avoid cross-contamination?
• What is done with leftover food? (The correct answer is immediately served to vendors and staff or picked up by donation services.)

The Safest Wedding Food Services for Summer Nuptials

Our experts unanimously agree: A plated meal service is best. “It’s safer because it comes directly from the kitchen, is served out per course, and is removed once finished,” says Behar. Also straight from the kitchen, passed hors d’oeuvres get the green light.

If you had your sights set on a buffet, however, there are ways to keep it healthy. Additional cookware and safety measures should be in place. They can also add a  touch of ambience to your reception. “We like to serve proteins like steak and chicken on a buffet in heated cast iron skillets which keep the food at the correct temperature without overcooking it,” says Nilsson. Chilled buffet items can also be chic, yet safe. “Adding any sort of ice sculpture or base to your stations is an elevated design approach and allows for any food to be served,” adds Behar. 

Foods You Should Avoid Serving at a Summer Wedding

As long as food safety guidelines are adhered to, there aren’t many off-limits items. “With an experienced caterer, I’d say you are in good hands with most any menu, but raw bars in particular, if not handled with extreme care, can quickly go out of the safe zone,” says Nilsson. 

Sometimes, the environment determines which foods shouldn’t be served. For Richardson, it depends on the event setup and venue. “I ask questions: Is the wedding going to be in a backyard, park, or at a venue with air conditioning? Is there a refrigerator available, or access to an ice machine? And how long is the reception? Timing is everything,” she says. If a certain dish doesn’t fit with the answers to those questions, then it’s a good idea to avoid it. “Someone could get sick,” she affirms. 

The Best Foods to Serve at a Summer Wedding

Funnily enough, some of the safest foods for summer pair well with the best of what summer has to offer. “Dishes with pesto, chimichurri, grilled vegetables, meats, and poultry served from the grill are great,” says Richardson. Avoiding dairy is also a sure-fire way to stay in the safe zone. That includes desserts without cream and salads with vinegar and oil-based dressings.