Thanksgiving Food Safety: Tips to Enjoy a Safe Holiday Feast

Lansing, MI – As Thanksgiving approaches, families across the country are busy planning their holiday meals. While preparing the perfect turkey and all the trimmings can be exciting, food safety is critical to ensure your celebration remains joyful and healthy. Follow these essential tips for a safe and stress-free Thanksgiving.

“Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with family and friends to celebrate and give thanks for the blessings and bounty of the harvest,” said Tim Slawinski, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Food Safety and Animal Health. “As you celebrate, however, it’s important to take a few precautions to keep foodborne illness off your guest list.”

Here are a few simple steps you can take to assure your holiday feast is safe:

Planning Ahead

Preparation: Store your food at the correct temperatures before preparation. Make sure the refrigerator and freezer are set to 40°F or below and 0°F, respectively. Make room for holiday meal items and leftovers by clearing outdated foods from your refrigerator. Make sure your refrigerator shelves and storage drawers are clean by washing and wiping them with hot, soapy water and letting them air dry.

Thawing Your Turkey Safely

The USDA outlines three safe methods for thawing your turkey:

1. Refrigerator Thawing: Allow 24 hours for every 4-5 pounds of turkey. For example, a 16-pound turkey will take four days to thaw.
2. Cold Water Thawing: Submerge the turkey in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes. Allow 30 minutes per pound.
3. Microwave Thawing: Check your microwave’s manual for specific instructions. Cook the turkey immediately after thawing.

Unsafe methods, such as thawing on the counter or in the garage, should be avoided under all circumstances.

Cooking Tips

• Cook to the Right Temperature: Use a food thermometer to ensure your turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Check the thickest part of the breast, thigh, and stuffing (if cooked inside the turkey).
• Avoid Cross-Contamination: Wash hands, utensils, and cutting boards thoroughly after handling raw meat. Use separate tools for raw and cooked foods.
• Stuffing Safety: Cook stuffing in a separate dish or ensure it reaches 165°F if prepared inside the turkey.

Leftovers Made Safe

• Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking to prevent bacteria growth.
• Store leftovers in small, shallow containers for quick cooling.
• Reheat to 165°F before serving and consume refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze leftovers and use within 2-6 months for best quality.

By following these tips, you can focus on enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving meal without worrying about foodborne illnesses.

For additional food safety tips, visit www.Michigan.gov/foodsafety or the USDA Health and Safety page.

For immediate release: October 15, 2024
Media contact: Jennifer Holton, APR, 517-284-5724

MDARD Director Tim Boring Thanks USDA for Disaster Declaration Helping Michigan’s Sweet Cherry Farmers in Eleven Counties

Declaration provides needed emergency resources for farmers hit by climate events, diseases

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan is known as the “Cherry Capitol of the World,” but severe weather events continue to threaten the viability of the industry. This year, the state’s sweet cherry farmers lost upwards to 75 percent of their crops after a mild winter and warm, wet early season conditions led to significant insect and disease damage.

In August, Governor Gretchen Whitmer requested a Declaration of Disaster from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make available much needed emergency resources for northern Michigan’s cherry producers. Yesterday, USDA issued disaster declarations for Antrim, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. In addition to the three primary counties USDA designated eight contiguous counties under the disaster declarations which are Benzie, Crawford, Manistee, Otsego, Charlevoix, Kalkaska, Missaukee, and Wexford.

“I was proud to stand with Governor Whitmer as we urged the USDA to recognize the impact of these disasters on Michigan’s sweet cherry harvest, and glad to see our farmers receive access to critical federal assistance,” said Boring. “Receiving a USDA disaster declaration is key to ensuring producers can access the resources they need. I appreciate USDA Secretary Vilsack for his commitment to Michigan’s sweet cherry farming families.”

“From farmers to producers to retailers, so many in our community rely on the success of crops like cherries,” said State Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City). “I am glad to see the USDA make this decision to bring some relief for the devastating sweet cherry crop loss and I will continue to seek ways to do more to support our farmers weathering this latest challenge to their livelihoods.”

The counties designated by USDA as natural disaster or contiguous disaster areas means qualified farm operators are eligible for low interest emergency loans from USDA’s Farm Services Agency (USDA-FSA) provided eligibility requirements are met.

Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. USDA-FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. USDA-FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

For Michigan to receive federal disaster status, the original crop loss estimates must be verified from harvest yield data.  If losses of 30 percent or more are confirmed, and the disaster request is granted, eligible state producers will have access to USDA-FSA’s low-interest emergency loan program for up to 100 percent of their weather-related agriculture production losses. USDA-FSA is the agency responsible for compiling the official crop loss statistics and administering the federal emergency farm loan programs.

For more information on the federal emergency farm loan programs, please visit the USDA-FSA website.

MDARD Announces Grant Opportunity for Rural Areas

Proposals due by 5 p.m. (EST) on December 5, 2024

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring today announced the department is offering a competitive grant program to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure benefiting rural communities in Michigan.

“Our rural communities are a fundamental part of Michigan’s food and agriculture industry. Governor Whitmer and I are committed to providing the support and resources to help increase resiliency and success in those communities,” said Boring. “The Rural Development Grant prioritizes sustainability for land-based industries and provides the crucial infrastructure needed for our rural areas to grow and thrive for years to come.”

The Rural Development Fund grants are available for projects addressing expansion and sustainability of land-based industries; worker training related to land-based industries; and energy, transportation, housing, communications, water, and wastewater infrastructure to benefit rural communities and micropolitan statistical areas.

Land-based industries include food and agriculture, forestry, mining, oil and gas production, and tourism. Eligible counties include those with a population no greater than 70,000 residents or micropolitan statistical areas. For a complete list of eligible counties, visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants.

The total amount of funding available during this grant cycle is $2 million. The maximum limit that can be requested for a project grant $100,000 with all proposals requiring a minimum 30 percent cash match of the grant amount being requested. Applicants for grant funds must describe how the project will impact and produce measurable outcomes for rural communities around land-based industries. The proposals will be evaluated through a competitive process.

Those interested in applying for the grant program should visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants to view the program details. All applications must be submitted through the MiAgGrants system. All applicants are required to submit three letters of support.

MDARD will host an informational webinar on this grant opportunity on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 10 a.m. (EST). More information on the webinar is located on the website.

Any additional communications concerning this Request for Proposal should be sent to [email protected]. Proposals must be received online through the MiAgGrants system no later than 5 p.m. (EST) on December 5, 2024.  Proposals received after 5 p.m. (EST) will not be considered.

The Rural Development Fund grants are funded by the Nonferrous Metallic Minerals Extraction Severance Tax. The Rural Development Fund was created under PA 411 of 2012. Revenue from the severance tax is in accordance with PA 410 of 2012.

For more information on the MDARD Grants Program and how we can help you, visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants or email us at [email protected].