Make Food Safety a Priority
When attending parties and get-togethers with co-workers, friends, and family members, there’s always a risk of foodborne illnesses.
Nobody wants to get their guests sick, and nobody wants to spend time in the hospital with food poisoning. However, foodborne illnesses can still crop up this time of year due to poor food preparation practices. Yes, holiday get-togethers can be busy and stressful for the hosts. They are busy running around the kitchen trying to get food ready for guests, but this is no excuse to ignore food safety procedures.
Food poisoning should not be taken lightly. Approximately 48 million Americans are sickened by food poisoning every year. Of these, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die. In November and December 2022, the New Jersey Poison Control Center received more than 200 calls asking about food preparation, serving, storage, and possible food poisoning.
It’s a good idea to remember four steps for food safety: clean, separate, cook, and chill. Fruits and vegetables should be rinsed before serving. Before prepping food, be sure to wash your hands with warm water and soap.
Keep raw meats, poultry, and seafood separate from other foods to prevent cross-contamination. Use separate cutting boards for each food item during preparation.
When cooking, use a thermometer to make sure foods have reached the appropriate internal temperature. After the meal, immediately store leftovers in a fridge at temperatures below 40 degrees. Refrigerate perishable food within two hours.
Never thaw frozen food on a counter, as this can cause foodborne germs to multiply quickly. Instead, thaw out foods in the fridge, in the microwaves, or in cold water.
Never prepare food if you are ill. If you have any kind of respiratory illness or infection, this puts your guests at risk of becoming sick as well.
Be careful of serving certain adult foods, such as pot brownies. Keep them away from children, as they face a much higher risk of severe health effects than adults.
Know the signs of food poisoning. Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, and diarrhea can develop within a few hours of eating contaminated food.
Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer Today
The holidays are a time to enjoy the company of family and friends over delicious food, but you need to stay safe. Prevent contamination issues so you can keep yourself and your family healthy and free of food poisoning.
If you have ended up sick or injured during the holidays due to food poisoning or some other type of product defect, get the help you need from a Morristown product liability attorney from The Law Offices of Michael P. Burakoff. We have experience helping our clients recover full and fair compensation through product liability claims across Morris County and Sussex County. Fill out the online form or call (973) 455-1567 to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
upi.com/Health_News/2023/11/22/holiday-food-safety-thanksgiving-christmas-2023/9831700695739/
