TANYA BROWN, USDA FOOD SAFETY EXPERT - COOKING MYTHS AND TIPS TO PREVENT FOODBORNE ILLNESS THIS THANKSGIVING
LET’S TALK TURKEY: USDA DISPELS COOKING MYTHS AND OFFERS VITAL TIPS TO PREVENT FOODBORNE ILLNESS THIS THANKSGIVING
FDA Food Safety Survey Reiterates How “Time Saving” Practices can Sometimes Result in Bad News for Americans
Foodborne illness, more commonly known as food poisoning, results in roughly 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thanksgiving is a time to be especially careful, as Americans are preparing a dish (turkey) they do not cook on a regular basis and for larger numbers of people. With more than 46 million turkeys cooked this holiday, there’s no better time to encourage families to safely prepare their meal by following four simple steps: clean, separate, cook and chill.
The great news is that most Americans wash their hands when handling poultry or raw vegetables according to the recent Food & Drug Administration Food Safety Survey. Unfortunately, the same survey found that 68% of consumers wash poultry in the kitchen sink which is not recommended by the USDA and only increases their likelihood of cross-contamination.
This Thanksgiving, USDA experts are helping to dispel many common myths surrounding the preparation and serving of the holiday turkey meal. Serious illness can result from several commonly-held “time-saving” practices such as: stuffing the turkey the night before; thawing the bird on the counter; and serving a turkey once it is golden brown and the juices run clear. These actions put family members at risk for food poisoning.
To learn more about food safety practices this Thanksgiving, please visit www.FoodSafety.gov or call the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET and from 8 a.m., to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Families can also access “Ask Karen,” an online database of frequently asked food safety questions available 24/7.
GAMING EXPERT ERIC LACHTER - FIND OUT THE HOTTEST GAMES, NEWEST TRENDS AND BEST BLACK FRIDAY DEALS
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR GAMERS
Holiday shopping is officially here! And with more than 59% of Americans playing video games, it’s likely you have one, or two, gamers on this year’s list. Need to find out what’s trending? Not sure what the hottest new game is?
In interviews on November 17, Eric Lachter, Vice President, Marketing at PlayStation will be available to share this year’s holiday gift guide for gamers. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly titles or ready to venture into the world of virtual reality, he’ll share ideas to excite every gamer on your list.
Eric will also share tips on how to take advantage of Black Friday deals and save money when gifting or upgrading gaming consoles.