With Super Bowl LVIII just around the corner, many are preparing to gather with family and friends to watch the big game.
However not practicing food safety can lead to foodborne illness and a very sour ending to what's supposed to be a festive night.
According to Jesse Garcia, a USDA Food Safety Specialist, it's crucial to ensure that perishable foods do not remain in the “danger zone” of temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees fahrenheit for more than two hours.
He suggests a game plan for serving food at gatherings to prevent food from sitting out for extended periods.
“We want to avoid having perishable food sit out in the danger zone...because bacteria can multiply quickly in that environment,” Garcia said.
Garcia recommends dividing food portions to prevent items from staying out for too long. Serve one portion for the first half, and another for the second half.
Use warming trays and slow cookers to keep hot foods hot. Place cold foods in bowls nestled in ice or into coolers to keep cold foods cold.
Hand hygiene also plays a vital role in food safety.
“If anything, remember these four footsteps year round: clean, separate, cook, and chill,” Garcia emphasized.
It's imperative to have clean hands and surfaces, and separate utensils to avoid cross-contamination.
Garcia also stressed the significance of applying these food safety principles to takeout food to ensure that it is handled and stored appropriately.
Pay attention to when your food is delivered or picked up. And you may need to refrigerate items if guests have not arrived.
The USDA has a toll-free hotline: 1-888-674-6854, or you can email them at mphotline@usda.gov to ask all your food safety questions.
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