The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is emphasizing the importance of food safety during Thanksgiving, a time when many inexperienced cooks take to the kitchen. The department urges consumers to maintain safe food handling practices from purchasing ingredients to serving meals and storing leftovers.

“On the most popular food holiday of the year, we’re reminding consumers to follow safe food handling practices starting at the grocery store and going all the way through enjoying your leftovers,” stated Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban. “Following these basic steps can help keep your family and friends safe this holiday season.”

The USDA provides guidance on several key areas:

- **Shopping**: To prevent bacterial growth, perishables like turkey should be picked up last during shopping trips and kept cold until home. Turkey packaging should be intact to avoid cross-contamination.

- **Thawing**: A frozen turkey can be thawed safely in a refrigerator or in cold water, ensuring it remains at safe temperatures throughout.

- **Preparing**: Surfaces that come into contact with raw turkey must be cleaned and sanitized thoroughly due to potential bacteria that cause foodborne illness.

- **Cooking**: Turkeys need to reach an internal temperature of 165 F in specified areas as confirmed by a thermometer, even if using pop-up indicators.

- **Serving**: Perishable foods should not sit out for more than two hours. Hot foods must stay above 140 F while cold items should remain below 40 F.

- **Leftovers**: Leftover turkey should be stored within two hours in small portions to cool quickly, preventing bacterial growth.

For any questions related to food safety during Thanksgiving preparations, individuals can contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline or visit their website for additional resources.

The USDA continues its mission under the Biden-Harris Administration by focusing on resilient local food production, fairer markets, access to nutritious food across communities, new income streams for farmers through climate-smart practices, investments in rural infrastructure and clean energy capabilities, and promoting equity within its workforce. Further information is available at www.usda.gov.