A Thanksgiving turkey is often accompanied by things such as vegetables, pie, cranberry sauce, and gravy. How can you make sure that it isn’t accompanied by Salmonella? (Photo: Getty Images)
Quick quiz: which of the following 8 active Salmonella outbreaks listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website do you think will most affect Thanksgiving?
- Salmonella Infantis linked to raw chicken products
- Salmonella Newport linked to ground beef
- Salmonella Enteritidis linked to Gravel Ridge Farms shell eggs
- Salmonella I 4,[5]],12:i:- linked to chicken
- Salmonella Reading linked to raw turkey products
- Salmonella Enteritidis linked to pet guinea pigs
- Salmonella Agbeni with investigations into Duncan Hines cake mix
- Salmonella Typhimurium linked to clinical and teaching microbiology laboratory exposure
If you answered number 6, the one linked to guinea pigs, you may have very interesting Thanksgiving traditions.
For most, the answer would probably be 5. Because, when it comes to Thanksgiving food-wise, you typically talk turkey. That’s why you may want to pay attention to yesterday’s CDC update on the ongoing raw turkey-associated Salmonella Reading outbreak if you celebrate the November 22nd holiday.
Salmonella Reading is a serotype of Salmonella and isn’t describing what Salmonella is doing, like “Salmonella reading a book.” And this particular strain of Salmonella Reading may be resistant to various antibiotics, as testing of different samples has revealed genes for resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, kanamycin, gentamicin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and fosfomycin.
This outbreak has lasted practically a year, having started shortly before last Thanksgiving with the first recorded illness beginning on November 20,2017 As of this past Monday, there have been 164 people with reported infections in 35 states. Nearly half (47% or 63) of the reported cases have resulted in hospitalizations. So far, there has been one reported death, which occurred in California.
As I have written before for Forbes, with each new Salmonella outbreak this year, you can sing Salmonella, here we go again. My my, how can I resist you? There been more outbreaks this year in previous years in recent history. You can also since diarrhea, here you go again, because common symptoms of Salmonella infections are fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramping, bloating, and diarrhea. Typically, Salmonella intestinal infections will resolve without specific treatment after 4 to 7 days. But, some cases may progress to more serious illness when the bacteria spreads to other parts of your body like your arteries, joints, and heart. And as seen in this turkey outbreak, death can result, albeit rarely, especially if one has a weakened immune system.
Raw gobble-gobble products are the suspected culprit of this particular outbreak based on evidence of some people becoming ill after preparing or handling turkey products that had been purchased raw, having pets that ate raw turkey pet food, working in turkey raising or processing facilities, or living with someone who worked in such facilities. Plus, testing has found Salmonella Reading in samples of raw turkey pet food, live turkeys, and raw turkey products.
So does this mean tofu turkey for Thanksgiving instead of real turkey? Not necessarily. The CDC announcement emphasizes that the “CDC is not advising that consumers avoid eating properly cooked turkey products, or that retailers stop selling raw turkey products.” Instead, the outbreak is a strong reminder that you should always be taking the proper turkey preparation precautions that I mentioned previously for Forbes. The ongoing Salmonella outbreak simply raises the risk of not following precautions such as:
- Do not eat raw turkey: Unless you want to play diarrhea roulette.
- Do not feed your pets raw turkey: Unless you and your pet want to play diarrhea roulette.
- Thoroughly clean anything that touches raw turkey. This meaning everything, includes all utensils, cutting boards, counters, storage containers, and any costumes in which you may dress your turkey.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly: Use soap and water and not hand sanitizer or some other liquid like gravy.
- Don’t wash the turkey: This could cause a Salmonella aromatherapy mist.
- Beware of a suspicious turkey: Don’t prepare or eat turkey that looks or smells odd.
- Properly store the turkey: Keep the turkey frozen until you are ready to thaw and cook it.
- Properly defrost the turkey: Trying to cook a not completely defrosted turkey may leave undercooked areas. There are many inappropriate ways and places to thaw a turkey like on a counter, on a table, in your bed, or on a sofa. The 3 proper options are to immerse the turkey in cold water while wrapped in a waterproof plastic bag (the turkey, that is and not you), using the microwave, or keeping the turkey in the refrigerator long enough (which according to the USDA is 1 to 3 days for a 4-to-12 pound turkey, 3 to 4 days for a 12 to 16 pound one, 4 to 5 days for a 16 to 20 pound one, and 5 to 6 days for 20 to 24 pound one.)
- Cook stuffing before you stuff the turkey or better yet don’t stuff the turkey: Bacteria can hide out in the stuffing while the turkey is being cooked.
- Use an oven temperature of at least 325°F to cook the turkey.
- Use a turkey thermometer: This can ensure that the inside of the turkey can reach at least 165°F or 74°C, the temperature that kills Salmonella. Use a real turkey thermometer and not a rectal thermometer. The words rectal thermometer and dinner should almost never go together.
- Cook a turkey long enough: The USDA offers the following time tables to cook turkeys:
| Turkey Weight in Pounds | Cooking Time in Hours If Turkey Is Unstuffed | Cooking Time in Hours If Turkey Is Stuffed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 to 6 (breast) | 1½ to 3¼ | Why are you trying to stuff something so small? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 to 8 (beast) | 1½ to 3¼ | 2½ to 3½ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 to 12 | 2¾ to 3 | 3 to 3½ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 to 14 | 3 to 3¾ | 3½ to 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 to 18 | 3¾ to 4¼ | 4 to 4¼ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 to 20 | 4¼ to 4½ | 4¼ to 4¾ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 to 24 | 4½ to 5 | 4¾ to 5¼ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A Thanksgiving turkey is frequently accompanied by things such as veggies, pie, cranberry sauce, and gravy. How can you ensure that it isn’t accompanied by Salmonella?( Image: Getty Images) (****** ) Quick test: which of the following 8 active Salmonella break outs noted on the Centers for Illness Control and Avoidance( CDC) site do you believe will most impact Thanksgiving?
(*************** )If you responded to number 6, the one connected to guinea pigs, you might have extremely fascinating Thanksgiving customs. For the majority of, the response would most likely be 5. Due to the fact that, when it concerns Thanksgiving food-wise, you normally talk turkey. That’s why you might wish to focus on the other day’s CDC upgrade on the continuous raw turkey-associated Salmonella Checking out break out if you commemorate the November22 nd vacation. Salmonella Checking out is a serotype of Salmonella and isn’t explaining what Salmonella is doing, like” Salmonella checking out a book.” And this specific stress of Salmonella Checking out might be resistant to different prescription antibiotics, as screening of various samples has actually exposed genes for resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, kanamycin, gentamicin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and fosfomycin. (*************** ) This break out has actually lasted virtually a year, having actually begun soon prior to last Thanksgiving with the very first tape-recorded health problem starting on November20,2017 Since this previous Monday, there have actually been(********************************************************************************* )individuals with reported infections in35 states. Almost half(47 %or63) of the reported cases have actually led to hospitalizations. Up until now, there has actually been one reported death, which took place in California. As I have actually composed prior to for Forbes, with each brand-new Salmonella break out this year, you can sing Salmonella, here we go once again. My my, how can I withstand you? There been more break outs this year in previous years in current history. You can likewise because (************************ ) diarrhea, here you go once again, since typical signs of Salmonella infections are fever, headache, queasiness, throwing up, anorexia nervosa, stomach cramping, bloating, and diarrhea. Normally, Salmonella digestive infections will solve without particular treatment after 4 to 7 days. However, some cases might advance to more severe health problem when the germs infects other parts of your body like your arteries, joints, and heart. And as seen in this turkey break out, death can result, albeit hardly ever, particularly if one has a weakened body immune system. Raw gobble-gobble items are the presumed perpetrator of this specific break out based upon proof of some individuals ending up being ill after preparing or managing turkey items that had actually been bought raw, having animals that consumed raw turkey family pet food, operating in turkey raising or processing centers, or coping with somebody who operated in such centers. Plus, screening has actually discovered Salmonella Checking out in samples of raw turkey family pet food, live turkeys, and raw turkey items.(************* ) So does this mean tofu turkey for Thanksgiving rather of genuine turkey? Not always. The CDC statement stresses that the” CDC is not encouraging that customers prevent consuming correctly prepared turkey items, or that merchants stop offering raw turkey items.” Rather, the break out is a strong tip that you must constantly be taking the correct turkey preparation preventative measures that I pointed out formerly for Forbes(************ ) The continuous Salmonella break out merely raises the threat of not following preventative measures such as:(************* )
(******************** ) Completely tidy anything that touches raw turkey.(************************************************** )This significance whatever, consists of all utensils, cutting boards, counters, storage containers, and any outfits in which you might dress your turkey.(************************** ) (******************** ) Do not clean the turkey: This might trigger a Salmonella(************ )aromatherapy mist .(************************ )
(******************** ) Prepare a turkey enough time:(************************* ) The USDA provides the list below time tables to prepare turkeys:
The bottom line is that the continuous Salmonella break out should not always prevent you from consuming turkey this Thanksgiving, as long as you can ensure all of abovementioned preventative measures remain in location. That’s an actually crucial” as long as ” readability =”881399281652″ > A Thanksgiving turkey is frequently accompanied by things such as veggies, pie, cranberry sauce, and gravy. How can you ensure that Quick test: which of the following 8 active Salmonella break outs noted on the Centers for Illness Control and Avoidance( CDC) site do you believe will most impact Thanksgiving?
. . . If you responded to number 6, the one connected to guinea pigs , you might have extremely fascinating Thanksgiving customs. For the majority of, the response would most likely be 5. Due to the fact that, when it concerns Thanksgiving food-wise, you normally talk turkey. That’s why you might wish to focus on the other day’s CDC upgrade on the continuous raw turkey-associated Salmonella Checking out break out if you commemorate the November 22 nd vacation. Salmonella Checking out is a serotype of Salmonella and isn’t explaining what Salmonella is doing, like” Salmonella checking out a book.” And this specific stress of Salmonella Checking out might be resistant to different prescription antibiotics, as screening of various samples has actually exposed genes for resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, kanamycin, gentamicin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and fosfomycin. This break out has actually lasted virtually a year, having actually begun soon prior to last Thanksgiving with the very first tape-recorded health problem starting on November 20,2017 Since this previous Monday, there have actually been 164 individuals with reported infections in 35 states. Almost half (47 % or 63) of the reported cases have actually led to hospitalizations. Up until now, there has actually been one reported death, which took place in California. As I have actually composed prior to for Forbes, with each brand-new Salmonella break out this year, you can sing Salmonella , here we go once again. My my, how can I withstand you? There been more break outs this year in previous years in current history. You can likewise because diarrhea, here you go once again, since typical signs of Salmonella infections are fever, headache, queasiness, throwing up, anorexia nervosa, stomach cramping, bloating, and diarrhea. Normally, Salmonella digestive infections will solve without particular treatment after 4 to 7 days. However, some cases might advance to more severe health problem when the germs infects other parts of your body like your arteries, joints, and heart. And as seen in this turkey break out, death can result, albeit hardly ever, particularly if one has a weakened body immune system. Raw gobble-gobble items are the presumed perpetrator of this specific break out based upon proof of some individuals ending up being ill after preparing or managing turkey items that had actually been bought raw, having animals that consumed raw turkey family pet food, operating in turkey raising or processing centers, or coping with somebody who operated in such centers. Plus, screening has actually discovered Salmonella Checking out in samples of raw turkey family pet food, live turkeys, and raw turkey items. So does this mean tofu turkey for Thanksgiving rather of genuine turkey? Not always. The CDC statement stresses that the “CDC is not encouraging that customers prevent consuming correctly prepared turkey items, or that merchants stop offering raw turkey items.” Rather, the break out is a strong tip that you must constantly be taking the correct turkey preparation preventative measures that I pointed out formerly for Forbes The continuous Salmonella break out merely raises the threat of not following preventative measures such as:
. . . . . .
. The bottom line is that the continuous Salmonella break out should not always prevent you from consuming turkey this Thanksgiving, as long as you can ensure all of abovementioned preventative measures remain in location. That’s an actually crucial” as long as .” If you are are uncertain about the food security practices of those preparing your turkey, then yes, you might desire believe as soon as, two times, 3 times about consuming that turkey. . |
