Make sure you fully cook any turkey you’re making over the holidays, so you don’t accidentally give your family the gift of salmonella.
That’s a warning from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, which has put out some food safety advice ahead of the holidays.
Beyond fully cooking poultry, staff members say you should be careful to avoid the “temperature danger zone” of four to six degrees Celsius, where harmful bacteria inside your meat can multiply.
They say you can avoid it by thawing frozen food in the fridge, instead of on the counter or in the sink, and by keeping it above 60 degrees Celsius once it’s cooked.
Once you’re eating, staff add that other illnesses like RSV and influenza often spread from touching utensils other people have used.
They say you can limit this by washing your hands every time you use a serving utensil.
When you’re finished, they add you should break any leftovers down into smaller portions and quickly refrigerate them to keep them safe to eat.
You can find more food safety advice on the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health website.