How To Prevent Food Poisoning At Big Game Parties In Minnesota

On Sunday, February 11, the San Franciso 49ers will battle the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.

While there are plenty of interesting storylines surrounding the game, which is expected to be close, for people who don't call the 49ers or Chiefs their favorite team, it'll mostly be a day to hang with friends, have a few drinks, and eat a lot of great food.

Of course, whenever you get people together, with many bringing their favorite food to share, there is always the chance that Sunday won't end up so super due to food poisoning.

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With that in mind Dr. Julie Gatza (a.k.a. "Dr. Julie"), who is co-founder of the Florida Wellness Institute, has offered the following food-safe pre and post-game tips.

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Keep Things Clean: Wash Your Hands And Wipe Surfaces Often

Dr. Julie notes that germs that cause food poisoning can survive in many places and spread around the kitchen. The CDC recommends washing hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before, during, and after preparing food and before eating.

Separate: Don’t Cross-Contaminate

Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs can spread germs to ready-to-eat foods unless you keep them separate. Be sure to use separate cutting boards and plates for raw meat, poultry, and seafood to keep them and their juices away from other foods. Also, keep them separate from all other foods in the fridge.

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Cook to the right temperature

Food is safely cooked when the internal temperature gets high enough to kill germs that can make you sick. Don't rely on how the food looks, use a thermometer and the following temperature guidelines:

145F for whole cuts of beef, pork, veal, and lamb
160F for ground meats, such as beef and pork
165F for all poultry, including ground chicken and turkey
165F for leftovers and casseroles
145F for fresh ham (raw)
145F for fish or cook until flesh is opaque

Use Multiple Coolers

Pack raw meats separately from ready-to-eat foods, such as prepared salads, fresh fruits, and vegetables, and have a separate cooler for cold beverages. Ice for drinks must be kept separate from all food. Have a separate cooler to store ice used to make drinks.

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Regularly consume probiotics and fermented vegetables

Taking a probiotic and mixing in fermented veggies is a great preventative idea as they contain good bacteria which help destroy unhealthy microbes. It's also recommended to supply your digestive tract with digestive enzymes, which can be purchased over the counter.

Germ-proof your recipes by adding antimicrobial spices

Did you know that crushed herbs and spices and their oils are not only safe for use in foods like soup, sauces, entrees, and salads, but their volatile antimicrobial compounds can also inactivate foodborne pathogens in their vicinity?

LOOK: 50 images of winning moments from sports history

Sometimes images are the best way to honor the figures we've lost. When tragedy swiftly reminds us that sports are far from the most consequential thing in life, we can still look back on an athlete's winning moment that felt larger than life, remaining grateful for their sacrifice on the court and bringing joy to millions.

Read on to explore the full collection of 50 images Stacker compiled showcasing various iconic winning moments in sports history. Covering achievements from a multitude of sports, these images represent stunning personal achievements, team championships, and athletic perseverance.

Gallery Credit: Peter Richman