Noting that September is Food Safety Education Month and the start of football season in Green Bay Packers country, the Florence County Health Department has some tips on making sure food is properly prepared and stored to reduce the risk of making anyone sick.

Most healthy people will recover quickly from a foodborne illness, but some develop chronic, severe or even life-threatening health problems, the FCHD advised in a news release. The most at-risk individuals are those pregnant, young children, older adults and people with weakened immune symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States still experiences 3,000 deaths annually that can be traced to foodborne pathogens. Symptoms can differ even if people ate the same meal. The concentration of pathogens can vary in food and water.

With that in mind, the FCHD suggests these ways to avoid food poisoning —

— Clean: Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, wash cutting boards and utensils after preparing each food item, wash produce under running water and consider using paper towels to clean up kitchen surfaces.

— Separate: Separate raw meats, poultry, eggs and seafood from produce and ready-to-eat food items when preparing, serving and storing.

— Cook: Cook food to the right temperatures to kill harmful germs. Use a food thermometer to check meat, eggs and microwaved dishes. Keep hot foods hot — 140 Fahrenheit or warmer — and cold foods cold, at 41 F or lower.

— Keep it safe: Serve food at the right temperature, including leftovers. Store leftovers for less than four days; freeze if not planning to eat them that soon. Throw out perishable foods that have been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours. Never thaw foods at room temperature — thaw in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave.

For more information, go online to www.fda.gov/food/consumers/food-safety-education-month. Or contact the Florence County Health Department at 715-528-4837 or in the Florence County Courthouse at 501 Lake Ave. in Florence, Wis. Or go to the website at https://florencewipublichealth.com/.