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Keep food safe for healthy holidays

Raw eggs, dairy products and mail-order gifts can cause a sickly season.

By Alicia Habermehl, Contributing Writer 4:40 PM Wednesday, December 23, 2009

LEBANON — The holiday season is a time of goodwill, giving thanks, and family gatherings usually centered around food.

Make this holiday feasting season a healthy one by keeping food safe.

Delicious delights

During the holidays, there are lots of delicious foods. Some of these foods may contain raw or lightly-cooked eggs. Bacteria might be inside some raw eggs, but you can safely enjoy these foods by simply cooking raw eggs and egg-containing foods thoroughly. To make food items that require eggs safe you can:

• Use store-bought holiday products which are often already cooked or pasteurized.

• Make recipes that call for raw eggs safer by adding the eggs to the amount of liquid called for in the recipe, then heating the mixture thoroughly too at least 160 degrees F.

• Purchase pasteurized eggs. These eggs are heat-processed to kill harmful bacteria. They can be found in most supermarkets near the raw eggs and are clearly labeled “pasteurized.” Products of this type come in several forms — i.e. fresh, pasteurized eggs in the shell (found in the refrigerator section.); liquid, pasteurized egg products (found in the refrigerator section.); frozen, pasteurized egg products (found in the frozen food section.); and powdered egg whites (found in the baking section.)

And remember, treat yourself to freshly baked treats, but avoid tasting raw cookie dough, cake batter, and pie filling if they contain raw eggs.

Refrigerate those holiday pies

Bacteria can multiply quickly in moist desserts that contain dairy products. Cold temperatures keep most harmful bacteria from multiplying, so keep those holiday foods refrigerated.

Things to refrigerate include:

• Cream pies, cakes with whipped-cream and cream cheese frostings, and other creamy desserts.

• Cold pasta dishes with meat, poultry, seafood, or dairy products, quiches and souffles, especially if you aren’t serving them immediately.

• Reheat food to 165 degrees F before serving. Use a food thermometer to check.

Mail-order food gifts

If you send food via a mail-order company, be sure to specify overnight delivery, and request the company supply a frozen gel-pack or dry ice in the packaging. This will help ensure the food will arrive at your destination firm and refrigerator cold.

If you are receiving a perishable food gift, follow these tips:

• Open the package upon arrival.

• Make sure the food is still refrigerator cold.

• Immediately refrigerate or freeze the food.

• If perishable food doesn’t arrive cold, don’t eat it, and notify the shipper immediately.

Have a safe and health holiday season.

Alicia Habermehl is Health Educator/PIO/Case Worker for the Warren County Combined Health District. Contact her at (513) 695-2475.

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