Fireworks Not Food Poisoning for the Fourth of July

There's nothing better than spending a great day with friends and family on the Fourth of July. Participating in all the great community celebrations in and around Sioux Falls is a terrific way to commemorate the 248th birthday of our country.

No July 4th celebration would be complete without all the traditional foods: burgers, dogs, beans, salads, etc. The last thing on your July 4th agenda should be a fireworks show, not food poisoning. But every year, some people end up becoming violently ill due to improper food preparation and storage.

Believe it or not, around 3,000 people die from foodborne illness every year and 42 times that, end up in the hospital for treatment. Been there, done that. Believe me, when I say, it was no fun and you certainly don't want to be responsible for sending friends or family to the emergency room.

The Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has 3 major ways for you to ensure the food you serve is delicious and safe.

Wash your hands! - - This is the easiest thing you can do to stop the spread of illness-causing bacteria. Wash before handling food and afterward, to avoid cross-contamination. Make sure your utensils are clean also.
Keep cold food, cold and hot food, hot.
Cook foods to safe temperatures:

Beef, pork, lamb & veal (steaks, roasts, and chops) - 145°F with a three-minute rest time
Fish - 145°F
Ground meats (beef, lamb, veal, pork) - 160°F
Whole poultry, poultry breasts, and ground poultry - 165°F

If you're doing a hot dog or burger toppings bar, keep the items on ice. Perishable foods shouldn't be left outside for longer than 2 hours when it is 90° or below and only 1 hour at 90° and above. All leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours (or less, if it is above 90° outside).

For more food safety information, you can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854 from 9 AM to 5 PM CST.

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Gallery Credit: Dave Roberts

Twelve South Dakota Places to Put on Your "Must Visit" List!

Make the most of summer in South Dakota and visit these spots that speak to why SD is great!

A lot of them you might have visited, some you haven't for sure, and some are old favorites that maybe you haven't been to in a while. So, while there is still a little time or even one more weekend, and gas prices are down a bit - - try and make it to one of these great places.

What can be found in these 12 locations?

What can't? Camping, fishing swimming, kayaking, birdwatching, and tons of other great outdoors-type activities. Historical, educational exploration, hobby interests, kids activities, just plain old beautiful scenery, and- - to use an overused phrase- -lots more!

With all of that in mind, let's dive in!

Gallery Credit: Patty D