Every December, schools across the country transform into festive hubs of celebration. Classrooms glow with string lights, teachers put on holiday playlists, and students arrive with trays of cookies, big bowls of pasta, and Crock-Pots bubbling with family recipes. The classroom potluck is a warm, nostalgic tradition—one that makes even the coldest winter days feel cozy.

But beneath the glittery decorations and cheerful chatter, there’s a quiet reality many people never consider: classroom celebrations are one of the most underestimated food safety risk zones of the entire school year. And it’s not because anyone is doing something “wrong.” It’s because potlucks bring together dozens of homemade dishes, long serving times, and crowded classrooms where oversight—not intention—creates condi

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