By: Christine Bruhn, PhD   Date: 12/23/11

Too many people get the 24 hour flu during the holidays. Was it really the extra hugs and kisses, or did an unexpected intruder barge into the holiday meal?  The holidays are a time when family and friends come together to visit and enjoy a delicious meal.  Keep in mind that bacteria would love to grow on you delicious holiday foods. Foil them! Follow the basic food safety guidelines of clean, chill, cook and separate to keep you and your loved ones healthy!

• CLEAN & SEPARATE: Wash your hands, the kitchen sink, and kitchen counter with soap before beginning meal preparation, after touching raw animal products, and before touching anything that is ready to eat.
• COOK: Use a thermometer to be sure food is cooked or reheated to a safe temperature – 160⁰F for ground beef, egg containing dishes, or leftovers, and 165⁰F for ground poultry.
• CHILL: Store leftovers within 2 hours of meal service. Excuse yourself from the festivities and put leftovers in shallow containers for rapid cooking in the refrigerator. Be sure your refrigerator is set at 40⁰F or colder, and store food so cool air can circulate and keep all items cool. Don’t use big containers. Containers should be no higher than 2-3 inches so the contents can become cold fast.

Along with holiday meals, many people take the opportunity to give gifts to their loved ones. Looking for a last minute gift for the dedicated cook? Consider a food thermometer! Instant read are handy and accurate. My favorite is a “thermapen.”

The temperature probe opens out when you are ready to take the foods temperature, and turns off when refolded. The temperature is recorded in seconds, accurate within 0.5 degrees, and the display is large, no need to put on glasses. They are pricey, but they last a life time and make recording the temperature fast and easy.

The holidays should be a time of laughter, love and good food, with no unexpected runs to the bathroom.  Follow the basic food safety steps to keep you and your loved ones healthy and able to enjoy the holiday season.

Additional Resources:
A Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety Risks
Holiday Food Safety
Holiday Food Safety Tips

Dr. Christine Bruhn is the Director of the Center for Consumer Research and Consumer Food Marketing Specialist in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of California, Davis. She has authored over one hundred forty professional papers on consumer attitudes toward food