Tips for a healthy Thanksgiving meal

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - For those cooking at home, the United States Department of Agriculture wants to make sure everyone has a safe holiday.

According to the CDC, millions of Americans suffer from foodborne illnesses each year, resulting in just under 130,000 hospitalizations and around 3,000 deaths.

The USDA is asking everyone to please handle their food, especially turkeys, properly when preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

USDA Food Safety Expert Meredith Carothers says the refrigerator is the safest way for a frozen turkey to thaw.

“It’s going to make sure the turkey is at a safe temperature the entire time through thawing,” Carothers said, “and then that way, it will be nice and safe for you through Thanksgiving.”

People are also encouraged to check their cooked turkeys with a food thermometer and make sure the whole bird is 165 degrees Fahrenheit when cooked.