Skip to Main Content

Big Game Safety

When you think about “football” and “safety,” chances are you picture a hard-hitting defensive back whose job is to keep the other team from completing long pass plays downfield. But when it comes to celebrating the big game with snack treats, Haley Oliver, associate professor of food science, urges fans to consider another kind of safety – food safety.

“Some things to think about as you’re preparing for the big game: keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold,” Oliver says.

Hot food should remain at or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, while cold food is safe at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dips are popular fare for football parties because they are relatively easy to transport and can be prepared for a variety of different tastes. But Oliver says dips should be refrigerated and not left out on the counter for more than two hours. She recommends keeping dips cold in a bowl filled with ice to ensure the temperature remains below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

If chicken wings are on the game day menu, it is important to cook the wings to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. These hot foods should be kept at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit until served and remain safe on the counter for less than one hour.

These simple rules, Oliver says, are the best way to prevent football party guests from ending up on the disabled list with a foodborne illness.

Featured Stories

Lower sugar cookie
Inventing a lower-sugar cookie that’s still a treat

Every job has its perks. For Lisa Mauer, “cookie baking trials” is one of hers. ...

Read More
Halee Fisher infant of the White House in her cap and gown.
Purdue alumna Halee Fisher grows a career at the USDA

Purdue University alumna Halee Fisher, who earned degrees in Agricultural Economics and Political...

Read More
Graduate students standing in front of a tractor while working on a laptop.
Purdue students launch inaugural SyDAg and Hackathon Weekend

A dynamic team of student leaders from diverse agricultural fields, under the leadership of the...

Read More
Plants growing with graphic overlay explaining the science
Consumers mostly support AI tools to improve food and agriculture

Consumers generally support using artificial intelligence to improve food and agricultural...

Read More
GLP-1 Solution
A natural GLP-1 stimulant?

Drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro have made regular headlines in recent years for their ability to...

Read More
John Deere Auto Unload
Harvesting in sync: Purdue and John Deere develop automated unloading technology

Harvest is one of the most demanding times in a farmer’s year. The clock is always ticking,...

Read More
To Top