Basic food safety measures can help prevent foodborne illness

FDA Consumer Health InformationNov 25 2009

Parties, family dinners, and other gatherings where food is served are all part of the holiday cheer. But the merriment can change to misery if food makes you or others ill.

Typical symptoms of foodborne illness are vomiting, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms, which can start anywhere from hours to days after contaminated food or drinks are consumed.

"The good news is that practicing four basic food safety measures can help prevent foodborne illness," says Marjorie Davidson, a consumer educator at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These four steps are: clean, separate, cook, and chill. It also helps to be careful when preparing and serving turkey stuffing and dressing.