Memorial Day weekend kicks off the unofficial start of summer with thousands of tourists and locals flocking to beaches in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

Many people will pack coolers full of food and beverage to consume while enjoying the sand and surf.

However, doctors warned in a TODAY.com article, that beachgoers should avoid packing specific foods in their coolers.

“The last thing you want is for people to go home and remember the beach trip because they got sick,” Dr. John Torres, NBC News senior medical correspondent, said on TODAY.

The five foods doctors say not to bring to the beach are:

— Cold cuts and deli meats that require refrigeration.

— Fresh salads and vegetables that can be contaminated with salmonella or E coli.

— Mayonnaise-based foods, such as potato salad and macaroni salad.

— Raw meat for grilling, that will sit around at various temperatures before it is barbecued. which is not the best idea due to the risk of bacteria growing.

— Precut fruit, which transfers bacteria on the surface of the fruit into the flesh, where it can grow and multiply, especially in hot beach weather.

The article quotes Torres and the UDSA on safety precautions for food brought to the beach:

— Perishable foods should never sit out of refrigeration for more than two hours, and if temperatures are 90 degrees are higher, no more than one hour.

— When packing, take food out of the fridge or freezer and put it immediately into the cooler. Aim to keep food refrigerated right up until you eat it.

— Try to avoid leftovers by only packing the amount you plan to consume.

— If you do choose to bring raw meat, season it at home, and keep it tightly wrapped in a place where any juices that may drip cannot get on to other foods, such as the bottom of the cooler.

— Pack drinks in a separate cooler from food so the food is exposed to warm temperatures less often.

— Try to fill your cooler all the way, packing extra ice if necessary, as this will keep its contents cool for longer.

— Bring a food thermometer if you are cooking at the beach.

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Follow Tom De Martini on X — @TomDeMartini1