by Lauri Harsh, MD, Eastern Iowa Gastroenterology
Dr. Lauri Harsh, Eastern Iowa Gastroentrology
Turkey leftovers rank up there in tradition along with Black Friday and football on Thanksgiving weekend. Yet thousands get sick each year in the U.S. from holiday leftovers.
To eat safely after the holiday follow these tips:
1) Two- hour rule: Food should go from your stove to the refrigerator in no more than two hours to prevent bacterial growth, and don’t forget to add the time that it’s out on the table.
2) Keep it cool: Chill leftovers quickly and take the turkey off the bone. Make sure cold air can circulate around the food inside your refrigerator.
3) Sniff test: Do more than just sniff your food. Even foods that look or smell fine can harbor harmful bacteria. Toss out or freeze stuffing and gravies after two days, and meat, poultry and other ides after four days.
4) Reheat completely: Food experts advise that you bring gravies to a boil and cook leftovers to a temperature of 165 degrees.
Symptoms of food related illness.
So, your stomach hurts after the big holiday. How do you know if you’ve overeaten or may have a food-related illness?
“Symptoms for food related illness can be severe and appear anywhere from five to six hours after eating to as long as 24 hours,” says Dr. Lauri Harsh, Eastern Iowa Gastroenterology, Davenport. “Especially for foods such as eggs and chicken, you can begin to feel sick within hours of eating.”
Dr. Harsh says to look for these symptoms:
- Abdominal Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Fever and Chills (temp. >100.4 F)
- Nausea and vomiting
When to see a doctor?
“If your diarrhea symptoms persist more than three days, call your physician,” advises Dr. Harsh. “If you are having significant diarrhea along with nausea and vomiting to the point where you cannot keep fluids down, you are certainly at risk for dehydration. Seek the advice of your physician if these extreme symptoms last longer than 24 hours. If you are elderly or a child of young age, I would not wait 24 hours. Dehydration can affect these age groups faster. Also if rectal bleeding is associated with any of the diarrhea, seek medical attention immediately.”
