Tips to Stay Healthy and Reduce Risks of Food Poisoning and Illness this Holiday Season from the CDC

The holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, are upon us. With them comes a lot of traditional family dinners, and unfortunately also sometimes illness from improperly prepared foods. According to a recent statement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year roughly one out of six Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases.

To help reduce the number of individuals who get sick from foods, the CDC has made some recommendations to help keep you and your family healthy while you enjoy family dinners and time together this holiday season.

The CDC reports that most foodborne illnesses “result from food being contaminated when it is being prepared or served by unwashed or improperly washed hands.”

Here are the steps that the CDC recommends to ensure that your favorite holiday recipe, and entire holiday meals are prepared with loving care and are as safe to eat as they are delicious.

•Clean. Wash hands, cutting boards, utensils, and countertops.
•Separate. Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood separate from ready-to-eat foods.
•Cook. Use a food thermometer to ensure that foods are cooked to a safe internal temperature: 145°F for whole meats (allowing the meat to rest for 3 minutes before carving or consuming), 160°F for ground meats, and 165°F for all poultry.
•Chill. Keep your refrigerator below 40°F, and refrigerate food that will spoil.
•Check your steps at http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/basics/index.html
•Report suspected illness from food to your local health department.
•Don’t prepare food for others if you have diarrhea or have been vomiting.
•Be especially careful when preparing food for children, pregnant women, those in poor health, and older adults.