City Of San Antonio: Metro Health Offers Food Safety Tips For Christmas Holiday

San Antonio TX

24 December, 2021

12:18 PM

Description

Press release from the City of San Antonio: December 21, 2021 CONTACT: Rudy Arispe (210) 207-8172 SAN ANTONIO (December 21, 2021) – As we plan to celebrate with family and friends on Christmas Day, Metro Health shares some important food safety tips as you prepare your holiday meal. First and foremost, if you are sick or feeling sick, it's recommended you do not prepare food for others. Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water, even those with skins and rinds that are not eaten. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling food. Use separate cutting boards and knives for fresh produce and for raw meats. Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meats or eggs. If food has been out for 2 or more hours, discard it. Bacteria can double every 20 minutes at room temperature. Take turkeys out of the freezer and thaw in refrigerator 4 to 5 days prior to cooking. A turkey must thaw at a safe temperature to prevent harmful germs from growing rapidly. Defrost food in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or in the microwave. Never leave food out at room temperature to thaw. Avoid thawing foods on the counter. After food is prepared, keep hot food hot and cold food cold. Refrigerate or freeze any perishable food within 2 hours. Place an appliance thermometer in your refrigerator to check temperature and ensure it stays at 40°F or below and the freezer at or below 0°F. Cook all meats until they reach the following internal temperatures: Poultry – 165°F; Pork/Ground Meat – 160°F; Seafood/Fish – 145°F; Beef Cuts – 145°F. Keep meat, chicken, turkey, seafood, and eggs separate from all other foods at the grocery store and in the refrigerator. Prevent juices from meat, chicken, turkey, and seafood from dripping or leaking onto other foods by keeping them in containers or sealed plastic bags. Store eggs in their original carton in the main compartment of the refrigerator. Do not eat raw dough or batter. Dough and batter made with flour or eggs can contain harmful germs. Do not let children taste raw dough or batter or play with dough at home or in restaurants. Read the label carefully to make sure the dough is meant to be eaten without baking or cooking. In ambient temperatures above 90 F, discard your eggnog after it sits out for more than one hour. Although the eggnog may not appear to be spoiled, it's best to toss it because harmful bacteria could develop in it when it's not properly refrigerated. You can tell if eggnog has gone bad if it is lumpy, has a sour and unpleasant odor and if it has lost its color from beige yellowish to another hue. For more information on food safety for the holidays, click here. This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author's own.