<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With food the big focus of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/christmas" rel="" target="" title="Christmas"><span>Christmas</span></a><span>, Aussie are being warned not to give anybody the unwanted gift of food poisoning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Health bosses say it's easy to forget what you're doing in the kitchen, and if you're in any doubt about whether something is safe to eat, just throw it away.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's easy to get distracted when celebrating and forget to put away food – be vigilant of the temperature of left out food and pack away leftovers before they spoil," Victoria's Chief Health Officer Dr Claire Looker said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/rail-union-offers-to-call-off-christmas-new-year-strikes/7c6b717d-94d7-4e7e-be01-16bd62578f47"><strong><span>Rail union offers to cancel holiday strike if government meets conditions</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tips to avoid food poisoning include being aware of the 'danger zone'.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bacteria that cause food poisoning are most likely to grow on food left at temperatures between five and 60 degrees.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If food has been left out for two hours or less in this temperature range, eat it or stick it in the fridge.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/christmas-leftover-food-reminder/91d9d9ae-c2f5-4894-8751-1619ea9cf01a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But if the leftovers have been lingering for between two and four hours, eat the food right away.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If it has been longer, throw it away.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-sets-woman-on-fire-kills-her-new-york-subway/d2c0ad6d-86f1-417e-bdf3-abb738a4fe8b"><strong><span>Woman burned to death on New York subway</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><a href="/content/2024/12/17/10/08/in-pictures-christmas-lights-2024-australian-homes-light-up-festive-spirit"><img alt="Christmas lights 2024 gallery" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) 636px, (min-width: 768px) 396px, 100vw" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/51hngt1JJBDh0kWMWaQ4Uxs--sg=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F12378fa9-2362-4fc2-b60a-206bb98da79b" srcset="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/51hngt1JJBDh0kWMWaQ4Uxs--sg=/396x223/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F12378fa9-2362-4fc2-b60a-206bb98da79b 396w, https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/rjjb49OncP9n2hhvQlhY5bRoX3Y=/636x358/https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2F12378fa9-2362-4fc2-b60a-206bb98da79b 636w"/></a></div><div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"><div class="styles__Headline-sc-2o34ro-4 hpbOlz">Neighbours put up sign in response to Christmas lights next door</div><div class="styles__Button-sc-2o34ro-1 eBjlmW"><a class="styles__ButtonLink-sc-2o34ro-2 hqpklJ" href="/content/2024/12/17/10/08/in-pictures-christmas-lights-2024-australian-homes-light-up-festive-spirit">View Gallery</a></div></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>High risk foods to watch out for include turkey, ham, seafood, cooked rice and custard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Put leftovers in the fridge - but only when they are not steaming hot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, if you're defrosting food, do it in the fridge- and don't re-freeze it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another little-known fact is that bacteria can spread from food to food in the fridge.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Always store raw meat separately and on a lower shelf than cooked and ready to eat foods such as ham and salads.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/pictures-from-automatic-camera-provide-first-look-at-uncontacted-amazon-community/fc6d6c5f-6ba0-43b2-a4b2-ec575906514d"><strong><span>Pictures from automatic camera provide first look at uncontacted Amazon community</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Finally, health bosses say, if in doubt, throw it out.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For advice call the </span><a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-safety-and-storage" rel="" target="" title="Food Safety Hotline"><span>Food Safety Hotline</span></a><span> on 1300 364 352.</span></div></div>