How will I know if I my turkey caused foodborne illness?
Although there isn’t any way of knowing for certain if a particular meal has caused someone to become ill, campylobacter is the most common cause of diarrheal illness in the U.S. Most people who become ill develop diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever within 2-5 days of eating. The illness typically lasts one week. In persons with compromised immune systems, campylobacter occasionally spreads to the bloodstream and causes serious, life-threatening infections. Holiday dinners can be the source of other foodborne illnesses as well. There’s no need to be “murky on turkey” if you remember: • Wash your hands before preparing food and after handling raw foods. • Hold cold foods at 41F or below, and hot foods at 140F or above. • Cook raw meats thoroughly. For poultry that is at least 165F in the thickest part of the bird. • Keep food preparation surfaces clean and sanitized.
