From our County partners at Mesa County Health Department: Stay Safe When Enjoying Food This Holiday Season Food not properly prepared, served or stored can make you sick The number one cause of foodborne illness is germs from dirty hands. To avoid getting sick, it’s important to follow certain storage, sanitation and cooking tips when preparing food. Bacteria can grow on food that isn’t kept at the correct temperature or that was prepared on unclean surfaces or by people who are ill. To stay healthy while preparing or enjoying holiday food, follow these guidelines: • Always wash your hands before food preparation and sanitize surfaces and utensils. • Keep hands, work surfaces and utensils clean. • Wash fruits and vegetables before preparing them. • Never leave perishable food out of the refrigerator for more than two hours. • While shopping, select meats last to keep them cold and bag them separately in plastic. Store raw meats and eggs below other foods in your refrigerator. • Cook foods to the proper temperature to kill parasites, bacteria and viruses that might be in the meat. Use a food thermometer to check. Fish, shellfish, beef, pork and lamb should be cooked to 145°F. Hamburger and sausage needs to be 155°F, and poultry, stuffed meats and casseroles should be cooked to 165°F. • Once cooked, keep hot food hot (above 140°F). Also, keep cold food cold (below 40°F). When planning for a potluck, keep these questions in mind: • Will I be able to keep my food hot or cold before and during service or be able to throw it away within 2 hours? If not, bring food that does not need to be kept at a certain temperature (crackers, chips, etc.). • Will I be able to transport foods safely? Be sure to maintain hot or cold food temperatures by using insulated coolers. • Will handwashing be available? If not, take foods that need to be eaten with a utensil or don’t need to be handled. • Are people going to touch my food? If so, provide a utensil or napkin. • Planning on potato salad? Cold salads made from cooked ingredients require special care. Cook the ingredients and refrigerate them before assembling the salad. Foods are safest within the first two hours after they are cooked. For potluck safety, prepare hot dishes right before the meal, rather than cooking and cooling in advance and then reheating. If reheating is necessary, be sure the center of the food is hot (at least 165°F). For more information, visit health.mesacounty.us.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 18:25:19 +0000