Holiday Food Safety: Know Where Your Prepared Meals Come From

As North Carolinians get ready for holiday gatherings and celebrations, NCDHHS reminds residents to think about food safety before buying prepared meals or food items. This is especially important when buying food through Facebook Marketplace or other social media sites.

Whether you’re buying a holiday meal online, picking up a party platter or eating at a seasonal event, make sure you know where the food came from and how it was prepared. Taking a few simple steps can help prevent foodborne illness.

"We know people are looking for convenient ways to feed their families and celebrate with friends. We strongly encourage people to choose permitted and inspected caterers, food trucks and restaurants to help reduce the chance of illness.

"We also urge everyone to be especially cautious about purchasing prepared meals advertised through social media platforms. Just because food looks good in a photo or someone has positive reviews doesn't mean it was prepared, stored or handled safely."

 – Shane Smith, Food Protection and Facilities Branch Head, NCDHHS Division of Public Health

Know How Your Food is Handled

In North Carolina, all restaurants, food trucks, caterers and temporary food vendors must have permits and pass regular inspections to help keep food safe. These requirements help protect you by addressing:

Safe food preparation
Handwashing
Food temperatures
Clean water
Proper storage
Protection from contamination

Environmental health specialists inspect food businesses across North Carolina. They check food preparation areas, review food safety practices and help prevent illnesses such as norovirus, salmonellosis and cyclosporiasis.

Food sold through social media can be risky if you do not know where it was made or whether the seller follows food safety rules. Some foods can legally be made in inspected home kitchens. However, prepared meals usually must be made and sold in a permitted commercial kitchen.

Food safety inspections help make sure:

Food comes from approved and inspected sources
Food is prepared and handled safely
Businesses have plans to manage food allergy risks

How to Buy Food Safely

NCDHHS encourages North Carolinians to take a few simple steps before buying prepared food:

Be careful about food advertised on social media. Before buying food online, ask where it was prepared and whether the seller follows food safety rules. Be especially careful with home-cooked meals sold by people who cannot answer your questions.
Check for permits and inspection information. When buying from a food truck, temporary stand or festival vendor, look for the required permit or public health information. Check the most recent inspection results or posted sanitation grade when available. If you’re not sure, contact your local health department.
Pay attention to how food is handled.
- Is the food preparation area clean?
- Are employees wearing gloves and keeping food protected?
- Are hot foods kept hot and cold foods kept cold?
Ask questions before purchasing. If a seller cannot explain where the food was prepared or whether they have the required permits, consider buying somewhere else.
Contact your local health department. If you're unsure whether a food business is properly permitted or have concerns about food safety practices, your local environmental health program can help.

To learn more about food safety requirements, visit the NCDHHS Food Protection Program.

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