As holiday gatherings approach, District Health Department No. 4 is reminding families to take simple steps to keep meals safe and healthy.

According to a community announcement, food safety starts with clean hands. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing or eating food. When cooking, keep raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs separate from ready-to-eat items. Use different cutting boards and utensils for raw and cooked foods and never return cooked food to a plate that held raw ingredients.

“Simple steps like proper hand washing, separating raw and cooked foods, and storing leftovers safely make a big difference,” a DHD4 environmental health sanitarian said in the announcement. “Foodborne illness can spread quickly, but with good habits, it’s also easy to prevent

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