The traditional holiday turkey demands most of the attention. And with good reason. In some homes, turkeys are left on kitchen counters to thaw. Later the meat may sit on a table for hours after the meal as the family continues to pick on it. Some turkeys are cooked in brown-paper grocery bags.
People still cook stuffing inside the turkey.
And a meat thermometer isn't always used to check the turkey's temperature. All of these practices are no-nos. We've gotten over the first holiday food hump, but the second is fast approaching. Awareness of potential trouble spots could prevent you, a family member or a friend from getting sick from bacteria in food, most of which are undetectable by sight, smell or taste. Typical symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting or nausea and abdominal pain.