Holiday Food Safety Quick Tips When hosting friends and family—particularly our older loved ones, people with weakened immune systems, infants, and pregnant women—safe food handling should be top of mind. When mishandled, protein-rich holiday centerpieces, like the Thanksgiving turkey, can harbor severe amounts of illness-causing microorganisms. Here’s a plan to facilitate a safer and enjoyable holiday meal. Fresh meat, poultry, and fish Before you bring home a fresh turkey, ham, goose, roast, or fish, make space on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator where a leak-proof plate or platter can be used to prevent juices from dripping onto other items in the fridge. Make the meat, poultry, or fish the last item in you pick up at the grocery store to keep it cold for as long as possible. Place it in a plastic bag on the bottom rack of your [...]