1. Safety Is A Must For Holiday Food Plans November 2010 Wash your hands! Hand washing, with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling food, is the single most important way to prevent the spread of disease. The holiday season is upon us. Unit and family members are planning many Thanksgiving feasts. Plans are also being made to share Christmas and New Years with family and friends as well. The goal for everyone should be to get through the holidays SAFELY!!! Turkey and Food Safety The biggest danger from turkey or any poultry comes from Salmonella bacteria which is present on 90% of all poultry. It is important to handle turkey with caution, taking care not to cross-contaminate cooking surfaces and utensils. Never eat any poultry in its raw state. Be sure to thoroughly clean all surfaces, utensils and hands with hot soapy water and preferably also a mild bleach solution after handling raw poultry and even cooked poultry. Don’t let poor food preparation spoil your holiday get-togethers. Keep the fun in your festivities by following these practices to help prevent food-borne illness based on recommendations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). HOLIDAY BUFFETS Prepare a number of smaller platters and dishes ahead of time. Keeping perishable foods over 2 hours in the "danger zone" of 40 degrees F to 140 degrees F is a leading cause of food-borne illness. Hold hot foods at 140 degrees F or higher and cold foods at 40 degrees For lower until serving time. At events such as buffets where food is set out for guests, avoid adding fresh foods to foods that have been setting out. Serve smaller bowls of food and set out fresh food bowls as needed. For added safety, put foods on ice or over a heat source to keep them out of the temperature "danger zone". LATE ARRIVING GUESTS Avoid letting any cooked food, meat or poultry remain in the danger zone -- between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F -- for more than two hours. If you have hot foods in the oven, you may be able to hold them safely until your guests arrive, advises USDA. Put a meat thermometer in the thickest part of your roast or poultry, or center of your casserole. Adjust the oven temperature so that the food stays an internal temperature of 140 degrees F or above. An oven temperature of 200 to 250 degrees F should be sufficient to hold the food. To prevent dryness, cover the dishes or wrap with aluminum foil. You should be able to hold food at least an hour without a loss of quality. HANDLING TAKE-OUT FOODS If you are picking up hot foods far in advance, refrigerate them. Refrigerate cold foods at 40 deg. F or lower until serving time. If the food is hot, and you'll be eating within two hours, keep it hot (140 deg. F) in a 200 to 250 degrees F oven. TRAVELING WITH FOOD When traveling with food or assigning foods to guests to bring, consider the type of food and the distance traveled. Cold foods should not be off refrigeration over two hours, including the time they are at room temperature during serving. Hot foods must be kept hot. REFRIGERATE THAT PUMPKIN PIE A pumpkin pie is a form of custard and like custard must be kept in the refrigerator. Foods which contain eggs, milk, and a high moisture content, like custard and pumpkin pie, must be kept refrigerated. Bacteria love to grow in these types of foods. AVOID EATING RAW COOKIE DOUGH As much as you may want to nibble on your favorite cookie dough, it's best to wait until the cookies are baked. Uncooked eggs in cookie dough may contain harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella. If you drink, don’t drive! No matter how little you think you have had to drink. If you drink, don’t drive! No matter how little you think you have had to drink. Designate a driver before you arrive at an event or party, also it’s a good idea to keep extra money and a cab company phone number in your possession, just in case. Designate a driver before you arrive at an event or party, also it’s a good idea to keep extra money and a cab company phone number in your possession, just in case. If hosting a party, make sure to set rules on drinking and driving. Offer to provide a ride home or a place for guests who drink to sleep. If hosting a party, make sure to set rules on drinking and driving. Offer to provide a ride home or a place for guests who drink to sleep. Always, protect yourself and passengers by wearing a safety belt at all times. Always, protect yourself and passengers by wearing a safety belt at all times. BE SAFE, NOT SORRY!!!  Consider inviting singles and new folks to your home for a holiday dinner.  Participate in group functions, and do something for someone else.  Try volunteering some time to help others.  Spend time with supportive and caring people. Reach out and make new friends or contact someone you have not heard from for awhile. The holiday season is a time full of joy, cheer, parties, and family gatherings. However, for many people, it is a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection on past failures, and anxiety about an uncertain future. Keep an eye on your co-workers. BE A WINGMAN!