Tag: Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving: How to Avoid Foodborne Illness

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To help avoid foodborne illness on Thursday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has some food safety tips. Foodborne illness is often referred to as food poisoning.

Avoid Unsafe Food Handling

  • Do not rinse a raw turkey since doing so can spread bacteria, thereby cross-contaminating other foods and surfaces. The water can splash bacteria up to three feet away.1
  • The only way to kill bacteria is to cook a raw turkey to a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees. It is essential to use a food thermometer since you cannot smell, see or feel bacteria on poultry.2
  • Food Thermometer — Temperature Test your Turkey in Three Places:
    • Thickest part of the breast
    • Innermost part of the wing
    • Innermost part of the thigh
    • Undercooked food can cause serious foodborne illness
  • Before cooking, make sure to clean and sanitize food preparation surfaces and utensils. During food preparation, wash your hands often.

Proper Handwashing

  • Proper handwashing is a big step to protecting those around your Thanksgiving table.
  • A person should scrub their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds as required to remove germs.

Have Questions on Preparing Turkey Dinner?

Talk to Food Safety Experts

  • Call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). Live food safety experts are available in English and Spanish.
  • Chat live with a USDA expert at usda.gov
  • USDA Experts available by phone and live chat:
    • Monday thru Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
    • Thanksgiving Day, the Meat and Poultry Hotline is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • No live chat on Thanksgiving Day

Resources:

 Sources:

1 Source: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2016/11/21/usdas-five-tips-food-safe-thanksgiving

2 Source: https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/11/19/dont-forget-your-thanksgiving-food-safety-steps