Valentine’s Day is a holiday where many people choose to dine out. When it comes to dining out, there is always a risk of foodborne illness.
Foodborne illness is an effective way to ruin an otherwise perfect Valentine’s day evening.
Whether you are dining in or dining out, we are here to help you have a good Valentine’s Day—one that does not include contracting a foodborne illness.
Follow these tips to safely dine out or dine in this Valentine’s Day.
Before making a reservation, be sure to properly vet the restaurant to make sure they are always food-safe. Look at the reviews, which can include health inspection scores, as well as if they have some sort of proof that their staff is food safety trained.
And if the restaurant doesn’t look clean or you see any red flags, you can always leave and find somewhere else.
Raw oysters are a classic Valentine’s Day dish but beware. Raw oysters could be contaminated with foodborne pathogens, leading to an unpleasant night for both of you. Consider skipping the raw oysters this Valentine’s Day.
When your food is served, make sure that it is hot and everything is thoroughly cooked through so that pathogenic bacteria are reduced to a safe level.
Leaving food out for too long allows pathogenic bacteria to multiply to dangerous levels. It is recommended that you get your leftovers in the fridge within 2 hours of it being served. If you get a doggie bag, get it in the fridge as soon as you get home.
This year, many restaurants are offering take-home Valentine’s Day boxes, either already made or a meal kit for you to prepare yourself.
If the food is already made and ready to go, make sure any hot food is still hot when it is picked up or delivered, then consume it as soon as possible to prevent the food from cooling down and entering the temperature danger zone, between 40°F - 140°F, where pathogenic bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels.
If you are responsible for preparing the meal, be sure to follow safe food handling practices when cooking it up.
Making steaks this Valentine’s Day? When cooking meat, make sure that it is cooked to its minimum recommended internal temperature, using a thermometer to check.
Once you are both done eating, don’t just leave the food sitting out. Get the leftovers in the fridge as soon as you can, at least within 2 hours of when it was served.
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