Health Tips for a Safe and Healthy Holiday

The holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, to celebrate life, to be grateful, and to reflect on what’s important. They are also a time to appreciate – and safeguard – the gift of health.

Tip #3: Food Safety

Food poisoning can ruin even the most festive celebrations. Each year, an estimated 1 in 6 Americans get sick from eating contaminated food.

Take simple steps to protect your family’s health when you prepare and serve holiday meals such as:

- Wash your hands and work surfaces before, during, and after preparing food, and before eating.

- Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separated during preparation.

- Cook food at the right internal temperature to kill harmful germs. Use a food thermometer to check.

- Refrigerate perishable foods, including leftovers, within two hours of buying or cooking.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention