Prepping for Thanksgiving can be exciting and stressful at the same time, especially when it comes to the actual meal. Follow these preparation guidelines to help reduce the spread of bacteria and food-borne illnesses at the dinner table.

• Clean: Always wash your hands, cooking surfaces, fruits, and vegetables. Do not rinse raw poultry before cooking.
• Separate: Use different cutting boards as you prepare. Don't let bacteria spread from one food to another.
• Cook: It is the internal temperature of the food that determines if it is done. Color is not an indicator of doneness.
• Chill: Leftovers should be put in the refrigerator within two hours of finishing your meal to stop the growth of harmful bacteria.

Information on food safety for the holiday is also available by phone at the FDA Food Information Line at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366) or the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).