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00000177-b32b-d5f4-a5ff-bbfb6e660000Here is the information you need to know about COVID-19 in Northwest Florida. We will keep this post updated with the latest information from local, and statewide agencies. For inforamtion from Centers for Disease Control and prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirusFor updates on Florida cases of coronavirus, visit the FDOH dashboard.The COVID-19 call center is available at 24/7 at 1-866-779-6121

Food Safety Can Help Make It A Happy Holiday Season

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Florida’s Department of Agriculture is reminding Christmas chefs to follow some basic but effective steps to avoid food-borne illnesses.

About one in six Americans, roughly 48 million, gets a food-borne illness each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common illnesses are norovirus and the Salmonella bacteria. 

Liz Compton, who runs the Bureau of Compliance at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, says food safety for the most part involves fairly simple measures that can go a long way toward keeping the holiday a pleasant one. Rather than one cardinal rule, there are three. 

“Don’t cross-contaminate when you’re preparing; cook your food thoroughly, and be careful about leaving it out,” said Compton.

To avoid cross-contamination while preparing the feast, be sure to wash hands often and thoroughly after contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs. That also goes for cutting boards, plates, platters and utensils.

Compton says it’s best to defrost the turkey in the refrigerator at a rate of one day per five pounds of weight, then cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Cooking times will vary with size. And use a meat thermometer.

“It’s just a few bucks,” Compton says. “Sometimes when people don’t have a meat thermometer, they undercook the meat and that’s dangerous.”

Another tradition to avoid is cooking the stuffing inside the turkey. Instead, cook it in a separate pan.

Fried turkey has gained rapid popularity over the past few years. Brad Baker is Emergency Services Coordinator for Santa Rosa County. Rule number one in frying the bird, he says, is to take it outside.

“Following that, would be make sure the turkey is fully thawed out,” says Baker. “One of the biggest issues you have is putting a partially frozen turkey or a still-wet turkey into hot grease. And water and grease do not mix.”

When frying a turkey, keep at least two feet between a liquid propane tank and fryer burner, and position it where the wind blows the heat away from the fuel. A good plan, says Baker, is to keep the fryer about 20 feet from any structures.

When it’s time to eat, many Thanksgiving meals are served buffet-style. Liz Compton at the Department of Agriculture says the best rule of thumb when putting out the spread is to keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold. Afterward, store the leftovers in shallow dishes to allow for rapid cooling in the fridge.

If you believe you’ve contracted food-borne illness, you are asked to notify your local county health department, or complete the online food and waterborne illness complaint form at www.foodandwaterdisease.com.