The holiday season is here and many people will find that their delicious holiday meal was more harmful than healthy. American Airlines just announced that five employees became violently ill after eating a turkey dinner this Thanksgiving and many who enjoyed meals in the homes of friends and family will also suffer the same fate. When it comes to holiday cooking, there is no substitution for education and being properly advised on the best way to prepare your meal. This includes everything from roasting a turkey to serving eggnog.
Many people turn to the Internet for new recipes and last minute holiday meal ideas, however the information provided on the Internet, may not always be accurate. This is often commonly found when people submit their own recipes that may not have the correct temperature settings or may not recommend an adequate cooking length. One of the best ways to determine that you are cooking and preparing your holiday meal in a manner that will not promote food borne illness or sickness is to check with the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) or the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to find the best current standards and policies for preparing and handling food.
At first, it may seem as if you already have enough knowledge to ensure that the meals you prepare are safe. However, there are many aspects that can contribute to food borne sickness and illness after the holiday meal. For example, many people may prepare the meal correctly, yet they may not know the best way to freeze the leftovers. Additionally, they may not know how long to store the foods and then use them again. Therefore, it is vitally important to ensure that you are following proper safety handling cooking, freezing, and storage.
When it comes to the proper way to handle, thaw, cook, and store a turkey, you can find current and up to date information at the “Let’s Talk Turkey” fact sheet from Food Safety and Inspection Service website.
In addition to all of the tips and guidelines on the site, there is also a hotline that is run by the USDA that will answer any questions that you may have regarding food preparation and safe handling. It is always best to find the answer to any questions pertaining to safe handling, freezing, cooking, and storing food. The phone number is: 1-800- 535-4555. They also have a toll free number for the hearing impaired. It is: 1-800-256-7072
In addition to safe handling, cooking, and storing procedures for turkey, it is also important to understand that preordered meals may also contribute to food borne illnesses, as was experienced with the American Airlines crew. It is recommended to eat prepacked or previously prepared meals. It is advisable to eat any previously prepared meals within two hours of its arrival. Any time longer than two hours will give ample room for bacteria to develop and grow causing serious sickness and food borne illness.
Usefull article..Thanks..!
Comment by Bayanlara Ozel Ne Varsa — November 29, 2007 @ 9:19 am