Safe food handling is just one part of having a healthy holiday season, as people spend more time indoors and share meals. Photo courtesy of Freepik

SOLANO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Solano County Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health Division reminds residents to practice food safety and take preventive measures to stay healthy this holiday season.

To reduce the risk of foodborne illness, remember to keep everything clean by washing your hands, cleaning kitchen surfaces, and rinsing fruits and vegetables. Do not rinse raw meat and poultry before cooking to avoid spreading bacteria.

Limit how long food stays out to prevent bacteria from growing. Holiday dishes tend to sit at room temperature as people gather, so keep hot food hot, cold food cold, and refrigerate leftovers within two hours.

Give each dish its own serving utensil to avoid cross-contamination. Sharing the same spoon or knife between foods on a buffet can move bacteria from one dish to another. 

Keep appetizers cold or swap them out over time. As snack boards sit at room temperature, bacteria can grow more quickly.

Cook food to a safe temperature to kill any harmful bacteria. Use a food thermometer to heat meat, poultry, and fish to the recommended temperature. Reheat sauces, soups, and gravies to a rolling boil.

Safe food handling is just one part of having a healthy holiday season. As people spend more time indoors and share meals, viruses such as the flu and COVID-19 spread more easily. You can still celebrate the holidays safely by following these tips:

Wash your hands often. Handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading germs.

Get vaccinated. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect yourself and others against infection and reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death.

Stay home if you’re sick. If you feel sick, stay home, and isolate from others, even if symptoms are mild.

To find a flu or COVID vaccine near you, visit VaccineFinder.org or contact your healthcare provider or local pharmacy.

For additional resources visit VaccineFinder.org or visit Solano County's Immunization Program: www.solanocounty.gov/government/health-social-services-hss/solano-public-health/immunization-program...