(NewsUSA) - You're preparing a feast for your next soiree, but have you thought about food safety? Even the most delicious party spread can be upstaged if proper precautions aren't taken
"Food can make a party, but it shouldn't make you sick," says Shelley Feist, executive director of the Partnership for Food Safety Education, or PFSE. "Whether you're serving a small dinner for six or a buffet for 60, always follow the basic safe food handling practices of clean, separate, cook and chill, to make sure everything on the menu is as safe as it is festive."

"By following a few basic tips from the PFSE, you can take the guesswork out of your menu preparations and plan a smart, safe gathering," says Bruce Peterson, Wal-Mart senior vice president of perishable grocery and PFSE chairman.
* Handle with care. Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. Also wash utensils, cutting boards, dishes and surfaces with hot soapy water before and after food preparation. Add a mixture of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of water to sanitize surfaces.
* Don't mix and mingle. Use two separate cutting boards: one for ready-to-eat foods and another for raw meat, poultry and seafood. Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs; juices from these foods may contain harmful bacteria that can lead to foodborne illness.
* Take a temperature check. Always use a food thermometer to confirm that food is cooked through. Reliable food thermometers can be purchased inexpensively at grocery stores or Supercenters.
* Remember the "two-hour rule." Foods should not sit at room temperature for more than two hours, the point at which harmful bacteria begin to multiply rapidly. Keep cold foods at 40 F or below and hot foods at 140 F or warmer.
* Follow the "Laws of Leftovers." Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within two hours. Make sure the refrigerator is set at or below 40 F and the freezer at or below 0 F.
For more information, visit www.fightbac.org.