Keep food safety in mind during the holidays

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Food is a big part of everyone’s holiday traditions. Turkey, ham, or roast beef and all the trimmings make for a memorable meal people look forward to all year! So, don’t be one of many Americans who will get sick from food poisoning.  Follow these simple steps and have a safe holiday!

• Keep it clean! Handwashing is the first step in protection. It’s also the best way to keep bacteria out of your kitchen. Make sure food preparation surfaces and utensils are clean before cooking. Using a sanitizing wipe is an easy way to make sure no bacteria is present, and do this again after handling raw meats.
• Separate, don’t cross contaminate foods and surfaces.  Use a separate cutting board for raw meat, poultry, or seafood. Use another for any foods like vegetables and salad that won’t be cooked before serving.  Use hot soapy water to wash any plates, utensils, or cutting boards that touch raw meat or eggs before using them again.  Washing or rinsing poultry can cross-contaminate other food items being prepared. And remember that brining meat or poultry doesn’t kill bacteria.
• Thaw meat, poultry, or seafood in the refrigerator, not on the counter. That goes for marinating foods, too.
• The only way to kill bacteria is to cook foods to the proper temperature. When you think your food is done, place a food thermometer in the thickest part of the food, making sure not to touch bone, fat, or gristle.
• When serving, keep hot food hot, and cold food cold. Chill any leftovers.  Always refrigerate perishable foods within two hours: bacteria can grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 41°F and 135°F.

Dessert is by far the favorite of most, so never eat raw dough or batter when making cookies, cakes, and other baked goodies. Dough and batter made with flour or eggs can contain germs like E.coli and salmonella.

Stay safe this holiday and enjoy the fruits of your labor! For more information on holiday cooking and food safety, tune in to our new podcast, The West Guest!  Danielle Saunders, Manager of the Columbus Environmental Health Department, is our guest and talks about this very subject! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2V7woKb9Lk. Also visit www.foodsafety.gov.

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