3,000 Die From Food Poisoning
Personal cleanliness in the kitchen means everything while serving food. With 1 in 6 Americans getting sick from foodborne illnesses, that adds up to 48 million people in the United States. Thousands are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases. With at least 128,000 hospitalized we must pay close attention to the causes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that Thanksgiving is a time to be careful in the kitchen while preparing food. We might slip up in the kitchen when rushing and cooking for large groups of people. When busy preparing food, wipe down those countertops and keep your fingernails clean. Germs can survive in many places around your kitchen, including your hands, utensils, cutting boards, and countertops.
Knowing the allergies of your guest is critical. Seniors will be one of the groups that are more likely to get sick and have a more severe illness. Their ability to fight germs and sickness may not be as effective. Other groups to be aware of are our children and mothers-to-be. People whose immune systems are weakened by health conditions or medications they’re taking should be considered. Salmonella can be killed depending on the type of food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cooking food at temperatures between 145 degrees F and 165 degrees F to kill Salmonella.
You will know if you have food poisoning by the painful symptoms. Symptoms range from mild to very serious. And your symptoms will differ from other guests. Common symptoms of food poisoning are upset stomach, tummy cramps, nausea, vomiting, and a fever. Food poisoning is all about the germs that can make you feel ill a few hours after, or the next day. Remember when grandma would say, cleanliness is next to godliness?