Keep food safe at graduation celebrations

AMES — Over the next several weeks, many Iowans will be celebrating graduations of their family members and friends. When making plans for your celebration, remember to also make plans to keep your food safe to eat, says a food safety expert at Iowa State University.

“Congratulations to you and your family for reaching this important milestone. As you come together to celebrate this achievement with family and friends, don’t let food poisoning spoil your party plans!” said Anirudh Naig, state extension specialist for retail food safety and associate professor in hospitality management.

Naig encourages following the Four Steps to Food Safety from FoodSafety.gov:

Clean. Wash hands, utensils and food contact surfaces with soap and water.

Separate. Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw and cooked foods separate when preparing food.

Cook. Use a calibrated food thermometer to check the internal temperature of food. Reheat leftovers to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chill. Refrigerate or freeze food and leftovers immediately.

“Following these simple food safety tips will help keep you and your family and friends healthy and give you more time to enjoy the graduation celebrations,” Naig said.