Health officials give holiday food safety tips
CHICAGO (AP) — Public health officials in Illinois say the holidays mean family, food and safety.
The Kane County Health Department says be sure to prepare holiday meals in a safe manner.
That includes thawing food in the refrigerator at 41 degrees or below and not at room temperature. Officials say it takes approximately 24 hours for each five pounds of frozen food to thaw in a refrigerator.
Holiday hosts should be sure to keep everything in the kitchen clean and wash hands often during preparation and serving. Guests should be careful when eating foods like raw oysters or egg drinks.
Officials also suggest double-checking meat to make sure it's thoroughly cooked. They also warn against cross contamination. For example, don't handle raw meats and then other food without washing your hands first.
