GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – The issue of foodborne illness has made a lot of headlines lately.

As we approach those holiday dinners, health officials want you to keep a few things in mind to keep people out of the hospital.

Each year, about 48 million people in the US get sick from their food. Of those, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.

Doctors and health experts say it’s important to know that whoever prepares the food should pay special attention to the temperature. Avoid the “danger zone”, which is between 40 and 140 degrees.

“If you get cold food, it should be colder than 40 degrees. If you get hot food, it should be steaming hot, greater than 140 degrees. This will go a long way in keeping you safe,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta of Grady Memorial Hospital.

Doctors say it only takes a small number of bacteria to cause disease.

A few simple steps to remember:

CLEAN

• Wash your hands before, during and after preparing food and after handling things like uncooked meat
• Make sure utensils, cutting boards and counters are clean
• Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running water

SEPARATE

• Keep raw meat, chicken and poultry, seafood and eggs away from other foods
• Do not use the same cutting boards for them during food preparation

REFRIGERATE

• Refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours. Never defrost food on the counter as this can lead to the growth of bacteria. Instead, thaw it in the refrigerator in cold water.

Copyright 2024 WBAY. All rights reserved.