.png)
By Joseph C. Maroon, MD, FACS
Holidays are a time to celebrate and be together with family and friends. But it also can be a time of stress and excess. Balancing our joy with celebrating can be tricky and too often can lead to a variety of health problems. In the past I have cautioned about the stress phenomenon, “Holiday Heart,” which describes the top three days for heart attacks in the US on December 25th, December 26th, and January 1st. Also, during the winter holidays the increased alcohol consumption and long-distance driving leads to a spike in traffic injuries.
Not fun facts to hear at this time of year but reminding people about ways to avoid and prevent injury and illness remains important. One of the most common health threats that tend to spike this time of year are food borne illnesses. There is little doubt that 2024 recorded the most food safety recalls of all time. From Big Macs, poultry, and lunch meat, to carrots, cheese, and ramen noodles, harmful bacteria or undeclared allergens in foods have exceeded 200 FDA recalls so far in 2024. When preparing for your holiday meals this year consider reviewing the FDA Food Safety Recall site at: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts.
Food Safety at Home
Preparing large and delicious meals for the holidays at home is a tradition for many Americans. Long hours are spent shopping, preparing, and cooking elaborate traditional holiday meals are what many of us have waited all year for. But increased food preparation can mean more people are cooking and handling food during the holidays. This can increase the chances of food safety mistakes. Some holiday foods, such as raw eggs and undercooked meat, are more likely to cause foodborne illness. Unrefrigerated foods are often left out for hours. Larger amounts of leftovers are stored for longer periods of time during the holidays. This can increase the risk of bacterial growth and spoilage. As we learn with the COVID19 epidemic, more people are gathered during the holidays can mean rapid spread the illness to others.
Simple Food Safety Tips
Washing your hands frequently is important all the time but especially during the holidays. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after handling food. Clean surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water and avoid cross-contamination by separating raw and cooked foods by using separate cutting boards and utensils for raw and cooked foods. Cook food to a safe temperature. Use a food thermometer to ensure that foods are cooked to a safe internal temperature: Poultry: 165°F, Ground meat: 160°F, Beef, pork, and lamb: 145°F. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking and reheat leftovers to a safe temperature of 165°F.
By following these tips, you can help to prevent foodborne illness and enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season. Happy Holidays!