Agriculture Secretary: Follow Food-Safety Tips, Use PA Preferred Products for an Enjoyable Thanksgiving

News provided by

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Nov 23, 2010, 11:38 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding today encouraged Pennsylvanians to incorporate some of the state's freshest, most delicious, locally grown products in their Thanksgiving feast this year and to follow a few food-safety tips to ensure the holiday is enjoyable.

"Our state's products have earned a reputation for quality and the PA Preferred logo helps consumers easily identify foods that are locally produced or processed," said Redding. "Always look for the PA Preferred logo – a blue keystone with a gold checkmark – at a local grocery store or farm market when planning your menus."

Governor Edward G. Rendell launched the PA Preferred program in January 2004 as a way to promote and increase sales for state-sourced food products and goods. Currently, the state has more than 2,000 members enrolled in the program.

To ensure that Pennsylvania families have a safe Thanksgiving meal this year, Redding also urged home chefs to follow a few basic food safety steps when preparing their meal and handling leftovers, including:

  • Keep hands, clothing and food surfaces clean before, during and after food preparation.
  • Wash hands with soap and warm water and dry them thoroughly before and after handling food.
  • Use separate cutting boards, platters, trays and utensils for cooked and uncooked meat or fish and poultry and wash plates after each use.
  • Defrost turkeys in the refrigerator, in cool running water, or in the microwave.
  • Ensure stuffing is cooked at a temperature of 165 degrees regardless of whether it is placed inside or outside of the turkey cavity.
  • Refrigerate leftovers promptly.
  • Never leave cooked food unrefrigerated for longer than two hours.

"By understanding and following proper food-handling and preparation guidelines, home chefs can ensure this Thanksgiving dinner will be a safe one," said Redding.

For more information about PA Preferred, including a searchable database of member locations and recipes, visit www.papreferred.com.

Media contact: Matt Tindall, 717-787-5085

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

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