November 21, 2005 Health Department Offers Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips

- There are approximately 76 million cases of foodborne illness in the United States each year. These diseases spread easiest at holiday times, as people prepare dishes for large gatherings, using many different utensils and types of food, and have more cooks than usual in the kitchen. With Thanksgiving coming up, state health officials remind everyone to practice food safety tips when preparing their holiday meal.

 “We want people to be alert as they prepare food for the holidays, because although most cases of food poisoning result in only a mild illness, severe infections and serious complications can occur,” said Department of Health Secretary Dr. Fred Cerise.

Foodborne diseases include infections caused by certain types of bacteria and parasites. These organisms can be found in a wide range of foods, such as meat, seafood, dairy products and fresh produce.

Cerise said the most important precaution in preventing foodborne illness is not allowing food to become contaminated with bacteria as it is being prepared. This means people should wash their hands frequently during food preparation and should be especially careful to keep raw meat from touching or dripping onto other food.

The LDH Office of Public Health offers the following food safety tips for Thanksgiving cooking:

-end-

Surgeon General Ralph L. Abraham, M.D.

Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein

Powered by Cicero Government