Last Updated: January 8, 2025
The holiday season should be filled with joy, laughter and good tiding. Don’t let precious time with family and friends get detoured with coughs, sniffles and tummy troubles.
Food can be the center of attention of many holiday gatherings, parties and meals. With a few easy steps you can keep food poisoning from being an uninvited guest.
Safety starts with good food preparation. Make sure you keep your hands and food surfaces clean. When you touch raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs you can spread germs if you don’t wash your hands after handling them. It is also important to wash food surfaces like cutting boards and counter tops after using them for raw foods.
Refrigerate foods at the right temperatures. Thaw frozen food safely in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. Never thaw food on the counter. Finally, make sure you cook foods like turkey, stuffing and other items at the proper temperature.
Make healthy choices when picking your holiday menu and remember all good things in moderation. When serving, make sure your buffet stays bacteria free with these safety tips.
Store leftovers promptly. Never leave food out for more than two hours. And don’t forget to freeze and reheat leftovers safely.
If your holiday plans include dining out, check out these tips to keep your experience safe.
Holiday gatherings are a great place to catch up with your loved ones, but they are also a great place to share germs. Make sure you only give gifts this year and not contagious diseases like flu, COVID, strep, and norovirus by following these tips:
- Staying home when sick.
- Washing your hands frequently with soap and water.
- Covering coughs and sneezes.
- Not preparing food for others if you are sick.
- Stay updated on your vaccines.
- Avoid touching face, nose, mouth and eyes with unwashed hands.
The most up-to-date data on the current rates of current rates of COVID, flu and RSV activity can be found on VDH’s Respiratory Disease Dashboard.
Have a healthy and safe time during the holidays with your family and friends!