During this holiday season, many households are making plans to gather with friends and family to share meals and celebrate. It’s essential to equip communities with vital food safety knowledge to help prevent foodborne illnesses during these large gatherings. Check out these helpful reminders and tips:

• Always wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling food.
• Clean kitchen surfaces, dishes and utensils with hot water and soap.
• Hot foods should be held at 140 °F or warmer.
  
• On the buffet table you can keep hot foods hot with chafing dishes, slow cookers and warming trays. 
  
• Cold foods should be held at 40 °F or colder.
  
• Keep foods cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice.
  
• Foods should not sit at room temperature for more than two hours.
  
• Keep track of how long foods have been sitting on the buffet table.
  
• Throw away anything there two hours or more.
  
• Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in shallow containers.
  
• Wrap or cover the food.
  
• Leftovers stored in the refrigerator should be consumed within three to four days.
  
• Heat leftovers to 165 °F before eating.

Share this information to help keep families happy and healthy this holiday season!