Thanksgiving is a special time for socializing and celebrating with family and friends. As the holiday season approaches, remember the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline as an available resource. While the local Extension office will be closed for the holiday on Thanksgiving Day, hours of operation for the hotline on Thanksgiving Day are 6 a.m. to noon local time.

The toll-free number for the hearing impaired (TTY) is 1-800-256-7072. Listen to holiday food safety tips online at: www.iftfoodfacts.org ^[1]. Consumers can speak to a food safety specialist in either English or Spanish, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time on weekdays year-round.

FSIS Seasonal Feature – Fall, Winter and Holiday Resources
The Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA features a Web site that offers food safety education resources by season and holiday. Fact sheets are available with information on the usual “turkey” selections as well as information about mailing foods safely, cooking for groups, and roasting “other” holiday meats, including Turducken.  Several of the articles are available in Spanish as well as English.  To access the articles check out the following Web site:  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/Seasonal_Food_Safety_Fact_Sheets/index.asp.

Thanksgiving preparation tips are available from the National Turkey Federation along with seasonal and holiday ideas. Video clips of cooking demonstrations are also available online at www.eatturkey.com ^[2] and select the Top Chefs link.

Colorado State University Extension fact sheets are available for information on smoking poultry meat at www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09325.html ^[3]. Also available is information on food storage for safety and quality at www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09310.html ^[4]