Food safety is important year round but a state health official reminds South Dakotans to pay particular attention as they entertain family and friends at holiday gatherings.
“Bacterial food-borne illness, more commonly called food poisoning, can be prevented with common sense measures such as thorough hand washing, cooking and storing foods at the proper temperature, and avoiding food preparation when you’re sick,” said Dr. Lon Kightlinger, State Epidemiologist for the Department of Health.
Through December 11, more than 400 cases of the food-borne illnesses Salmonella (141), Campylobacter (248), and E. coli (49) have been reported in South Dakota for the year. There have also been many cases of another food borne illness, Norovirus, which is not reportable.
Signs and symptoms of food-borne illness can include mild or severe diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain. Most people will recover on their own without medication or may require fluids to prevent dehydration.
Kightlinger recommended the following precautions for holiday food preparations:
- Wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw poultry or meat. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot soapy water.
- Keep raw poultry, meat and fish away from other foods that won’t be cooked and use separate cutting boards for the raw products.
- Cook poultry and meat to safe internal temperatures and use a food thermometer to check - 165°F for poultry and 160°F for beef and pork.
- Refrigerate raw poultry and meat within two hours after purchase. Cooked poultry and meat should also be refrigerated within two hours after cooking.
- Homemade eggnog using raw eggs may be risky - use pasteurized eggs or pre-made pasteurized eggnog instead.
- Be careful with raw oysters. People with weakened immune systems should avoid raw oysters or clams.
- Don’t double-dip in chip dips, salsa or cheese sauces. Germs from your lips can contaminate the food and make others sick.
- If you have diarrhea or have been vomiting, do not handle foods. In the past, South Dakota has reported Christmas party outbreaks of Norovirus when an individual with diarrhea served the cold cuts.
Learn more from the Department of Health, http://doh.sd.gov/HealthProtection/Resources.aspx, or from the Partnership for Food Safety Education, http://www.fightbac.org/.
Fight Bac
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