SHOPPING - Food safety tips for the holidays

For many, the start of the holiday season begins with Thanksgiving — a time for reflecting on what we are thankful for and gathering with friends and families for a good meal. My family will have 85 people gathering in a rented space in Maine for a Thanksgiving celebration and feast. As a food safety advocate and educator, safe food handling quickly comes to my attention when cooking for that many people. No one wants to make their family or friends sick from the food that is served.

Whether you cook for yourself, a small gathering of families or friends or a large crowd, it all begins with safe food handling. Safe steps in food handling, thawing, cooking and storage are essential in preventing foodborne illness. You can’t see, smell or taste harmful bacteria that may cause illness. When people think of food safety, meat and poultry are usually the first items that come to mind. I encourage you to think beyond turkey and other meats to tofurkey and, yes, baked goods such as pies, breads and other desserts.