RaeAnn Tucker from the Henry and Stark County Health Departments joined Seth Parlier on Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about food safety on Thanksgiving, Lung Cancer Awareness, and vaping, which has been added to the Smoke-Free Illinois Act. The Henry and Stark County Health Department will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Both the health department offices and the First Choice Healthcare Clinics located in Kewanee, Colona, and Toulon will not be operational on November 28th and 29th. While the offices are closed, limited home services will still be available to provide essential in-home care. Residents in need of assistance during this period can still contact their nearest clinic for support.
It’s that time of year again – Thanksgiving. And the staff of the Henry and Stark County Health Departments note as cooks across the country ready themselves for this annual feast day, handling poultry incorrectly and undercooking it are the most common problems that lead to foodborne disease outbreaks. To better guarantee that your Thanksgiving holiday is a healthy one, the Health Department offers up some helpful “Turkey Tactics:
1.Thaw Your Turkey Safely
In the refrigerator in a container; start early and thaw turkey in a refrigerator. A 20-pound turkey will take about three days to thaw completely in a refrigerator.
In a leak-proof plastic bag in a sink of cold water (change the water every 30 minutes); or
In the microwave, following the microwave oven manufacturer’s instructions.
Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter. A thawing turkey must defrost at a safe temperature. When the turkey is left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, its temperature becomes unsafe. Bacteria can grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.
Do not wash or rinse a raw turkey. Federal food safety advice has recommended against washing turkey or chicken since 2005, but some habits are hard to break. Old recipes and family cooking traditions may keep this practice going, but it can make you and your family sick. Poultry juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and countertops.
2. Handle Your Turkey the Right Way-Raw poultry can contaminate anything it touches with harmful bacteria. Follow the four steps to food safety—clean, separate, cook, and chill—to prevent the spread of bacteria to your food, family, and friends.
3. Cook Stuffing Thoroughly-Cooking stuffing separately from the turkey in a casserole dish makes it easy to be sure it is thoroughly cooked. If you cook stuffing in the turkey, put the stuffing in the turkey just before cooking. With either cooking method, use a food thermometer to make sure the stuffing’s center reaches 165°F. Bacteria can survive in stuffing that has not reached 165°F and may then cause food poisoning. If you cook stuffing in the turkey, wait 20 minutes after taking the bird out of the oven before removing the stuffing; this allows it to cook a little more. Use a food thermometer to check for a safe internal temperature.
4. Cook Your Turkey Thoroughly-Cooking times will vary depending on the weight of the turkey. Use a food thermometer to make sure the turkey has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F. Check by inserting a food thermometer into the center of the stuffing and the thickest portions of the breast, thigh, and wing joint. Even if your turkey has a pop-up temperature indicator, you should still use a food thermometer to check that it is safely cooked. Let the turkey stand 20 minutes before removing all stuffing from the cavity and carving the meat.
As November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the Henry & Stark County Health Department is reminding residents of the critical importance of lung health and the dangers of smoking. Lung cancer, the deadliest cancer globally, can be triggered by smoking, exposure to hazardous substances, and even family genes. The department emphasizes the enforcement of the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, which bans smoking and vaping in public places and workplaces to protect community health. Compliance with the act involves posting no-smoking signs and removing ashtrays from restricted areas. For more resources or to understand local tobacco-free initiatives, residents are encouraged to reach out to the health department directly.
The Smoke-Free Illinois Act requires that all business owners:
- Do not permit smoking, vaping, or e-cigarettes within 15 feet of entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes.
- Post “No Smoking” signs at each entrance.
- Remove ashtrays from areas where smoking is prohibited.
- The Health Department notes that failure to comply with the Smoke Free Illinois Act can result in fines.
For more information about the Health Department’s Illinois Tobacco-Free activities or for “No Smoking” signs or window clings for your business, call 309-852-0197 Extension 249 or visit our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com, Find Us on Facebook, or Follow Us on Twitter.
