ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES Health and Wellness for All Arizonans Home About ADHS RSS AZDHS.gov Take steps to keep foodborne illness from spoiling holiday gatherings Home/Preparedness/Take steps to keep foodborne illness from spoiling holiday gatherings Previous Next Take steps to keep foodborne illness from spoiling holiday gatherings The holiday season that begins on Thanksgiving and continues through New Year’s means many things to many people. One thing it means to most of us is food. Meals and appetizers with family and friends help make the holiday season special. But there can be a downside to all that delicious food. If it isn’t prepared, cooked, and stored properly, it can leave everyone with foodborne illness. Even though the American food supply is among the safest in the world, an estimated 128,000 people each year require a hospital stay because of foodborne illness, resulting in about 3,000 deaths. Overall there are about 48 million cases of food poisoning in the U.S. each year, affecting one in six Americans. Here are some simple steps to protect yourself and others: Start with clean hands and clean equipment. Clean your produce before cooking to remove potential contaminants. Separate foods to prevent cross-contamination. Don’t use the same utensils or cutting boards for uncooked chicken and other food items like vegetables you will eat raw, for example. Cook your turkey to 165 degrees. A food thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast and innermost part of the thigh and wing will help you know that meat is cooked thoroughly. Chill the leftovers within 2 hours to prevent bacteria from gaining a foothold. Wash your hands before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Those most likely to have the serious health concerns from foodborne illness, sometimes called food poisoning, are those younger than 5 or older than 65, as well as pregnant women and those with immune systems weakened by disease, chemotherapy, or dialysis. Most foodborne illnesses happen suddenly and last for a short time. Symptoms may include cramping, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. We have more food safety tips on our website. And please keep COVID-19 safety in mind as well as you plan holiday gatherings, starting with getting vaccinated and getting a booster dose if you are eligible. By Jessica Rigler| November 22nd, 2021|Preparedness|Comments Off on Take steps to keep foodborne illness from spoiling holiday gatherings Share This Story, Choose Your Platform! Facebook Twitter Linkedin Google+ Pinterest Email About the Author: Jessica Rigler Jessica Rigler, an Arizona native, began her public health career more than 15 years ago, serving in varied roles with local, state, federal, and international public health agencies. Jessica has been with the Arizona Department of Health Services for over 12 years, supporting evaluation activities with the state immunization program, serving as the state’s first Healthcare Associated Infections Coordinator, and leading the Bureau of Epidemiology and Disease Control. She is currently an Assistant Director overseeing the Division of Public Health Preparedness at ADHS, which spans the areas of Epidemiology and Disease Control, Emergency Medical Services, Public Health Statistics, Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory. In recent years, Jessica has worked with the ADHS team to lead critical public health responses including opioids and COVID-19. Jessica holds Bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and human development from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master’s degree in public health from Emory University. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist and certified in infection control. 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