USDA Out With Tips To Stave Off Super Bowl Food Problems

This weekend is Super Bowl Sunday, a time when even the casual football fan gathers around the TV to watch the big game.  But while you’re hanging out with family and friends, the USDA is reminding you to go on offense against Food Borne illnesses.  Janell Goodwin with the USDA told the Washington Ag Network there are four simple steps to remember to keep your snacks safe this weekend.  First she said it’s vital to clean, not only your hands thoroughly with soap and water, but also clean your food preparation areas.  Then follow the advise of Off Spring, and keep um separated.

“Keep your raw meat and poultry away from ready to eat foods, this is especially important if you’re grilling on Super Bowl day.  Don’t let the raw plate that holds raw food touch the cooked foods.  You want to use two separate plates.”

Goodwin added it’s also vital to cook your food thoroughly, and use food and meat thermometers to ensure you hit the proper temperatures.  And then when putting away the leftovers, she says you can’t leave snacks out for longer than two hours.

“Any perishable food that’s left out for more than two hours should be discarded.  A good rule to remember is at halftime swap out the foods that have been there since the beginning of the game.  That’s a pretty good estimate of the two hour rule.”

For additional food safety tips and ideas, visit the USDA.  The CDC estimates one is six Americans, 48 million, get sick from food borne illnesses each year, resulting in roughly 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.

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