With food as the centerpiece of many holiday celebrations, the Swampscott Health Department is reminding residents that food safety is important for everyone.

“‘The holiday season is a time when we gather together with family and friends and eat lots of delicious food! We hope that these resources will help our residents when they are preparing, cooking, and serving food during the holidays,” said Jeff Vaughan, the director of public health for the Swampscott Health Department.

Unsafe handling and undercooking of holiday meals – especially poultry – can cause foodborne illnesses. Turkeys should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Beef brisket, pork roast, raw or fresh ham, and racks of lamb should reach 145 degrees Fahrenheit and rest for three minutes before serving. Cooked ham packaged in a USDA-inspected plant should be reheated to an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, while cooked ham not packaged in a USDA-inspected plant should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Fish fillets should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Leftovers should be refrigerated within two hours.

The Swampscott Health Department also noted that bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses cannot be smelled or tasted.

“Please remember to wash your hands often, clean and sanitize surfaces, utensils, etc., often, separate foods like raw meat, chicken, etc., from other foods when storing them in the fridge and also when preparing them, cook foods and meats to the proper temperatures, and serve hot foods hot and cold foods cold,” Vaughan said. 

Public Health Nurse Neia Illingworth also noted that the holiday season coincides with respiratory virus season.

“We would like to provide residents with some important reminders about how you can protect yourself and others during the winter and the holidays: Please get vaccinated if you haven’t already done so, wash your hands frequently, cover your cough and/or sneezes, wear a well-fitting mask if/when you are in a crowded indoor space, and stay home when you are sick,” Illingworth. 

Over the past four weeks, COVID-19 and RSV emergency department visits in Massachusetts have remained very low, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Influenza-related emergency department visits have steadily increased since early November. However, statewide levels are still considered low. The public health dashboard shows that influenza-like illness activity in the Northeast Region of Massachusetts is currently moderate, while the Southeast Region is experiencing high levels. The rest of the Commonwealth continues to see low levels of activity.

As of December 6, approximately 10.4% of Massachusetts residents have received a COVID-19 vaccine, 31.5% have been vaccinated against influenza, and 51.4% of infants are protected against RSV.

At this time last year, 17.4% of residents had received the COVID-19 vaccine, 34.1% had received the influenza vaccine, and 51.4% of infants were protected against RSV. 

“The Swampscott Health Department wishes our residents and the entire community a safe and happy holidays!” Illingworth said.