Holiday Food Safety & Norovirus: What You Need to Know This Season
What Is Norovirus, and Why Is It So Common During the Holidays?
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and sometimes fever. It spreads through:
- Contaminated food or water
- Touching contaminated surfaces
- Close contact with someone who’s sick
The holidays create the perfect environment for norovirus outbreaks—lots of gatherings, travel, buffet-style meals, and more people sharing kitchen spaces.
Holiday Food Safety Tips to Reduce the Risk
1. Wash hands thoroughly
Handwashing is your best defense. Use soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially before preparing food, serving food, or eating.
2. Keep sick individuals out of the kitchen
Someone who is currently ill—or has been in the last 48 hours—should not prepare meals. Norovirus can still be contagious even after symptoms stop.
3. Rinse fruits and vegetables well
Even produce that will be peeled should be washed to prevent cross-contamination.
4. Cook shellfish completely
Shellfish, especially oysters, are a known source of norovirus. Make sure they’re cooked thoroughly and avoid serving raw shellfish during large gatherings.
5. Prevent cross-contamination
- Use separate cutting boards for raw meats and ready-to-eat foods.
- Keep raw foods away from cooked dishes.
- Use clean utensils and serving plates.
6. Refrigerate leftovers promptly
Don’t leave food out for more than two hours. Refrigerating quickly helps prevent bacterial growth and keeps holiday meals safe to enjoy later.
Keeping Gatherings Norovirus-Free
Sanitize frequently touched surfaces
Door handles, counters, faucets, and fridge handles are high-touch areas that can harbor viruses. Clean them often with a bleach-based cleaner or another disinfectant proven effective against norovirus.
Serve food safely
Buffet-style meals look festive but can increase contamination risks. To reduce them:
- Use serving utensils for each dish.
- Encourage handwashing before eating.
- Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
Have a plan if someone gets sick
If a guest becomes ill suddenly, clean up promptly using gloves and disinfect the area thoroughly. Wash any soiled laundry immediately, using hot water.
Special Population: College Students
Norovirus spreads especially easily on college campuses, where students live in close quarters, share bathrooms, and frequently gather in dining halls and social spaces. An outbreak can move quickly, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration that can disrupt classes and travel plans. As college students head home for the holidays, it’s important to reduce the risk of bringing the virus with them. Good habits—like thorough handwashing with soap and water, avoiding shared drinks, and staying home from gatherings if feeling sick—go a long way in preventing transmission. If someone on campus has recently been ill, giving time to fully recover before traveling and disinfecting commonly touched items can help keep families healthy during the holiday season.
Enjoy the Holidays, Stay Healthy
The holidays are meant for joy—not stomach bugs. By practicing good hygiene, handling food safely, and knowing how norovirus spreads, you can help protect your family and friends from unwanted illness.
A little prevention goes a long way in keeping your celebrations merry, bright, and germ-free.
