Volusia County, FL – With the holidays right around the corner, the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County (DOH-Volusia) is reminding residents to be mindful of food safety procedures.
According to DOH-Volusia, 1 in 6 people in the U.S. contract foodborne illness every year. In order to ensure a safe holiday for you and your family, DOH-Volusia recommends that you:
- Refrain from preparing food if you are vomiting or have diarrhea.
- Always refrigerate perishable food and keep your refrigerator below 40°F.
- Transport food cold to limit bacterial growth.
- Put food from the refrigerator into the cooler right before leaving home.
- Cook in a clean area and periodically wash hands, cutting boards, utensils, and countertops.
- Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after touching food.
- Keep raw meat and other food separate.
- Utilize a food thermometer to make sure food is at a safe internal temperature.
- Store leftovers in small portions and refrigerate within 2 hours.
- Throw away perishable food that has been left out after two hours.
- Heat leftovers to 165°F and have them sit out for a couple of minutes to allow the heat to kill bacteria.
For additional information of food safety during the holidays, head to foodsafety.gov.
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