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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – TUCSON, Ariz. – As Americans prepare for Super Bowl celebrations on Sunday, the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy encourages fans to strike food poisoning off the guest list for their parties.
“While a lot of things can cause you stress on Super BowlSunday, food poisoning shouldn’t be one of them,” says Keith Boesen, PharmD, CSPI, director of the center. “By taking a few extra precautions when preparing, cooking and storing food, you can assure that you and your loved ones have a delicious and safe celebration.”
America’s 55 poison centers play an important role in helping to prevent food poisoning. They promote safe food preparation and storage strategies, and, when things go wrong, they assist callers who suspect they have food poisoning. Poison centers manage almost 60,000 food poisoning exposure cases a year.
Symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains and diarrhea. Symptoms can last from a few hours to several days. While most food poisoning cases are mild and resolve without medical care, Boesen says, some episodes can be more severe and require expert treatment advice.
“Save our number, 1-800-222-1222, into your mobile phone and you always have a poison center expert at your fingertips,” says Boesen. “The experts provide free and confidential information and treatment advice 24 hours per day, seven days a week, year-round.”
The Tucson poison center offers the following food safety tips for preparing and enjoying your game day meals:
PREPARE:
· Keep meat, poultry, seafood and eggs separate from all other foods in your grocery bags, in the refrigerator and while prepping.
· Wash your hands, kitchen surfaces, utensils and cutting boards frequently, especially after handling or preparing uncooked food and before touching or eating other foods. Wash produce but not eggs, meat, or poultry, which can spread harmful bacteria.
· Use the microwave, cold water or the refrigerator method to defrost your frozen meat or poultry. Do not thaw or marinate these items on the counter, and be sure to cook them immediately after thawing.
COOK:
· The bacteria that cause food poisoning multiply quickest in the “Danger Zone,” which is between 40˚ and 140˚ Fahrenheit. In general, keep hot food hot, and cold food cold.
· After cooking is complete, allow meat to rest for several minutes before cutting or consuming.
STORE:
· Refrigerate leftovers promptly – within two hours – at 40° F or below to help reduce the risk of bacterial growth.
· Prevent cross-contamination by completely and securely covering foods in the refrigerator.
· Consume or freeze leftovers within three to four days.
Alcohol safety is also an important consideration at sporting events, Boesen adds. Last year, poison centers managed approximately 11,000 cases of alcohol exposure in children under 6. Even a small amount of ingested alcohol can harm a child’s central nervous system. Take special care to keep wine, beer, liquor and other alcoholic beverages up and away from youngsters during your party, no matter who is winning the game!
The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy provides free and confidential poison and medication information to the public and healthcare professionals. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One of 55 centers that make up the American Association of Poison Control Centers, the Tucson center serves all of Arizona and answers calls from all counties except Maricopa County. Call 1-800-222-1222 from any location to reach the poison center nearest you.
To learn more, visit azpoison.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@AzPDIC).
About the University of Arizona Health Sciences
The University of Arizona Health Sciences is the statewide leader in biomedical research and health professions training. UAHS includes the UA Colleges of Medicine (Phoenix and Tucson), Nursing, Pharmacy and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, with main campus locations in Tucson and the growing Phoenix Biomedical Campus in downtown Phoenix. From these vantage points, the UA Health Sciences reaches across the state of Arizona and the greater Southwest to provide cutting-edge health education, research, patient care and community outreach services. A major economic engine, the center employs almost 5,000 people, has nearly 1,000 faculty members and garners more than $126 million in research grants and contracts annually. For more information:http://uahs.arizona.edu
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