As millions of Americans prepare to gather for Super Bowl Sunday, food safety experts are reminding fans to take simple precautions to keep celebrations both fun and illness-free. Health officials encourage anyone who is sick to stay home and avoid preparing food for others. Frequent handwashing, including before and after cooking, before eating, and after using the restroom, is one of the single most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Foods should be served promptly, or divided into smaller portions and refrigerated until they are ready to be reheated and served, as dishes that cool or warm toward room temperature carry the risk of bacterial contamination. Perishable foods should be refrigerated or frozen within two hours, and any items left out longer should be discarded. When cooking at home, using a food thermometer is key to ensuring foods reach safe internal temperatures, which vary based on the dish. Additional food safety tips for game day are available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website, a link to which is included below.
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