As we're diving fork-first into the holiday season, the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) dishes out pointers to ensure your celebrations aren't plagued by mishaps or maladies. According to DDPHE, it's crucial to maintain food safety during this time of good cheer and copious consumption.
The DDPHE stresses handwashing as a baseline defense, suggesting a rigorous scrub for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food, to help fend off foodborne illnesses. Cross-contamination is a holiday spoiler that's easily avoided by keeping raw and cooked foods separate and maintaining clean kitchen surfaces. In serving a feast, never put cooked cuisine at risk by handling it alongside the raw, especially when it comes to turkey, which should be thawed safely and cooked immediately after to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Leftovers, a beloved aspect of holiday dining, come with a timeline. DDPHE's advice for properly storing food includes keeping hot foods above 140 degrees and cold foods below 40 degrees, and ensuring that festive fare doesn't languish in the dreaded bacteria zone of 40 to 140 degrees for over two hours. Consumables like turkey should be used up within four days, while casseroles and mashed potatoes can stretch up to five, tossing them in the freezer will extend their life span, but for optimal texture and taste, they say to dig in within four months.
Another piece of guidance comes with vaccination. In the face of seasonal sniffles and more serious conditions, the DDPHE emphasizes getting vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu, and COVID-19 before huddling close to kin and companions. "All vaccines are safe and effective," as per DDPHE, noting the rigorous testing vaccines endure to ensure they are beneficial and outweigh the risks. For those still needing to roll up their sleeves, vaccines are generally free through healthcare providers or local pharmacies for everyone age 6 months and above.
Navigating pet safety during the holidays also gets a nod from the Denver Animal Shelter. The gist of their guidelines is steering clear of sharing human holiday treats with your furry friends, including raw or undercooked turkey which can contain salmonella, or fatty foods like turkey skin that are hard for pets to digest. Dangerous items like chocolate, which can cause a range of severe symptoms, and sweets made with xylitol or raw eggs are definite no-nos for pets. The DDPHE offers a deeper dive into keeping tails wagging safely on their Healthy Insights blog.
