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Food Safety and Inspection Service


You’ve Got the Right Stuff(ing)! Tips to Handle Stuffing With Care

November 16, 2017 Archie Magoulas, FSIS Technical Information Specialist

Stuffing is a big favorite around the Thanksgiving holiday. Although it is delicious, covered with gravy and mixed with slices of moist turkey, this side dish can also be dangerous. Because moist, warm stuffing is an excellent medium for bacterial growth, it's important to handle it safely and cook...

Health and Safety

Brining Safely Will Bring Tender, Flavorful Meat to the Thanksgiving Table

November 16, 2017 Archie Magoulas, FSIS Technical Information Specialist

Are you interested in brining a turkey, but aren’t quite sure how to do it safely? USDA is at your service! Though brining may sound like something only done commercially or by a certified chef, it’s quite simple with the right strategy — that means following safe food preparation steps.

Health and Safety

Turkey, Chicken, Duck, Oh My! Turducken Defies the Traditional Thanksgiving Bird

November 15, 2017 Tanya Brown, FSIS Public Affairs Specialist

Turducken. The name doesn’t sound appetizing, but once you cut into the triple layers of chicken, duck and turkey, you can see why people bypass the traditional Thanksgiving turkey for this all-in-one, mega-stuffed delicacy.

Health and Safety

Have A Food-Safe Holiday Season

November 08, 2017 Tanya Brown, MBA, Lead Public Affairs Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service and Alexandra Day, Special Projects Coordinator, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion

Last year, more than 46 million turkeys were carved and eaten at Thanksgiving. Turkey is typically accompanied by a host of side dishes and desserts, making the Thanksgiving meal by far one of the largest meals most people will cook this year.

Health and Safety

Don’t Make Turkey Frying a Disastrous Situation This Thanksgiving

November 06, 2017 Archie Magoulas, FSIS Technical Information Specialist

Thanksgiving Day is full of family get-togethers, giving thanks, lots of food and some turkey deep frying horror stories. From homes burning down to turkeys skyrocketing into the air, safely preparing and frying a turkey doesn’t have to be dangerous. To avoid becoming one of these Thanksgiving Day...

Health and Safety

Spook-tacular Healthy Halloween Ideas: USDA Evidence-Based Ideas for a Healthy and Safe Halloween

October 31, 2017 Sheila Fleischhacker, Senior Advisor for Nutrition and Food Safety, Office of the Chief Scientist

“Trick-or-treating” or more recently “Trunk-or-Treating” is a Halloween custom for many American families. According to the US Census Bureau 2015 Population Estimates, there are an estimated 41.1 million potential trick-or-treaters – children ages 5 to 14 – across the United States. Of course...

Research and Science Food and Nutrition

Cook Slow to Save Time: Four Important Slow Cooker Food Safety Tips

October 24, 2017 Mary Katherine Jeffers, Executive Correspondence and Issues Management Staff, Food Safety and Inspection Service

With work, school, sports practices, music lessons and homework time filling up the calendar, the back-to-school season can be hectic. During this busy time of year, having dinner waiting for you when you come home can make life so much easier. That’s why a lot of people choose to use slow cookers...

Health and Safety

If Kibbeh Is On Your Menu, Consider Cooking It

October 17, 2017 Abigail Shew, Food Safety Education Staff, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA

Kibbeh is a Middle Eastern and North African dish traditionally prepared with a combination of red meat, usually beef or lamb, raw onion, cracked wheat, and spices. Although there are some versions of the dish that are baked or fried (such as Kibbeh raas, quipe, Kubba halab, or Kibbeh bil sinieh)...

Health and Safety

Don’t Let Food Poisoning Sideline Your Tailgating Party

October 10, 2017 Sarah Lichtman, Food Safety Education Staff, Food Safety and Inspection Service

Fall is a great time to get outdoors — the weather is mild, and there are so many great activities to choose from: picnics in the park, hiking, apple picking and every sports fan’s favorite — tailgating. But even the most devoted fan could be sidelined with foodborne illness if they’re not careful...

Health and Safety

Keep Playground Germs off of the Dinner Table

September 18, 2017 Sarah Lichtman, Food Safety Education Staff, Food Safety and Inspection Service

It’s September, which means the kids are back in school. They will be taught reading, writing and arithmetic, but there’s one lesson they might not be getting in the classroom – proper hand washing. This month, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue signed a proclamation naming September National Food...

Health and Safety
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