5 Food Safety Tips for the Holidays

As the holidays quickly approach, it’s time to start hanging up decorations and playing festive music. It’s also time to review important holidays safety tips as the holiday season can bring unforeseen dangers and potential injuries.

Keep yourself and your loved ones safe this season by ensuring you follow proper food preparation and protocol. To learn more about food safety tips for the holidays, continue reading.

Wash Your Hands

Hand washing is considered the single most important action which can improve public health! According to Jory Lange, a food safety lawyer at The Lange Law Firm, PLLC, “It is recommended that hands should be washed after touching animals, after changing a baby’s diaper, before feeding a child, and before preparing food or handling raw meat, fish, or poultry.”

Given the current global climate with the COVID-19 virus, Lange also suggests, “it is also good to wash your hands and/or use a hand antiseptic before and after tending to a sick person.” It is generally best to wash hands with warm water and soap, but if soap and water are not available, it is acceptable to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol.

Cook Food Thoroughly

Certain foods carry germs that can cause food poisoning. Meat, seafood, chicken, turkey, and eggs should be cooked to a safe internal temperature before ingesting. Use a food thermometer to double check food has been cooked properly and ensure food thermometers and all surfaces are cleaned in between uses to avoid contamination.

Avoid Leaving Food Out

If you must thaw food for your holiday celebrations, avoid leaving it on the counter. Instead, opt for refrigerator thawing, cold water thawing, or microwave thawing to prevent bacteria growth.

After food is cooked, prioritize keeping hot food warm and cold food cool. Dangerous bacteria can grow quickly between the temperatures of 40°F and 140°F. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend refrigerating or freezing any perishable food within two hours to prevent bacterial growth.

Store leftovers in shallow pans or containers to help decrease cooling time: this prevents food from sitting too long at unsafe temperatures. When it comes to consuming leftovers, eat within 2 to 3 days or consider using the freezer to store leftovers for longer periods of time.

Do Not Eat Raw Batter or Dough

No matter how tasty, never ingest raw dough or raw batter as dangerous germs can lurk within! E.coli and Salmonella can cause serious food poisoning that may even result in hospitalization.

If you and your children want to have fun baking and eating cooking dough, there are safe alternatives. Some companies offer edible cookie dough that uses heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs or no eggs to prevent contamination.

Keep Food Separate

Keep meat, chicken, turkey, eggs, and seafood separate from all other foods both at the grocery store and at home in the refrigerator. Juices from animal products can seep through packaging, causing dripping or leaking onto other foods, which can cause contamination (and a huge mess!).

Store animal products in containers or sealed plastic bags to prevent leaking. Store eggs in their original carton in the main compartment of the refrigerator.

Everyone Can Help Improve Holiday Safety

Whether your holiday season has you traveling far to see family or cozying up in your own home to celebrate, you can enjoy a fun and safe holiday season by prioritizing proper food preparation and storage. Prioritize food safety for everyone by following the five food safety tips listed above.

Everyone can help contribute to safety during the holidays by being educated and taking the time to learn. Stay warm, stay safe, and enjoy the holidays!