Health and Fitness : Food Safety Tips During the Holidays

Below are tips for food safety for the holidays including tips on cooking, storing, and handling foods. Some consumers are more at risk from foodborne illness and taking proper safeguards can prevent illnesses and make holidays a little less stressful.

*         Holiday Food Safety | FDA

*         Food Safety in Your Kitchen | FDA

*         Buffets and Entertaining (Game Day chart)

*         Safe Food Handling | FDA

Reporting a Problem

If you think that you or a family member has a foodborne illness, please contact your healthcare provider immediately. Also, report the suspected foodborne illness to FDA:

*         Contact the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator serving your state.

*         Contact MedWatch, FDA's safety information and adverse event reporting program, 1-800-FDA-1088

Additional Information

• Foodborne illness sickens 48 million, hospitalizes 128,000 and kills 3,000 people per year
• There are 4 steps to food safety: clean, separate, cook, and chill
• There are specific persons more at risk of foodborne illness: pregnant women, the elderly, the immunocompromised, and those with chronic ailments
• Call the USDA meat and poultry hotline at 1-888-674-6854 for questions about cooking turkey, pork, beef, or chicken