This season comes with reunions, family gatherings around the table, and New Years celebrations But with all these celebrations comes the possibility of food poisoning.
According to WebMD (based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) each year about 48 millions people in America get sick from food poisoning, 128,000 will need to visit the hospital
The good news is that there are ways to avoid getting sick:
- Do not cook if you have some type of respiratory illness, as this can make your guests ill.
- Always clean, separate, cook, and chill.
- Wash your hands often with warm water and soap and wash surfaces your food interacts with during the preparation.
- Always wash fruits and vegetables, but only use water. Don’t use soap.
- Raw food should not come in contact with raw meat, poultry, or seafood. And when you do use a cutting board, use a separate one for raw meats or seafood and another for other types of food.
- The temperature of the refrigerator where food is stored should be below 40º Fahrenheit. It is recommended to ensure that cooked food reaches a safe temperature by using a food thermometer.
- The safe way to thaw food is by placing it in the refrigerator, in cold water, or using a microwave. Viruses, bacteria, and parasites can grow rapidly at room temperature. That’s why it should never be left on the counter waiting to thaw.
For more information visit: https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20221122/keep-food-poisoning-at-bay-this-holiday-season?ecd=wnl_day_112722&ctr=wnl-day-112722_rssfeed_link_5&mb=JEXr%2FKBdlSDP1NkAm12%2FwoPvXzuwyR0BVklw6xV98uA%3D