This Turkey Day, keep things tasty and bacteria-free

You've spent hours on the turkey, just barely avoided botching the gravy and successfully kept the pie crust from burning.

Your Thanksgiving meal will be delicious. And by taking a few extra steps, the only discomfort afterwards will be from full stomachs.

Here are a few tips from the American Association of Poison Control Centers to keep that most unwelcome Thanksgiving guest -- food poisoning -- from messing up your perfect holiday meal.

1. Handle food carefully. Food poisoning usually happens from poor food handling practices. Symptoms can be fever, headache, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and often vomiting.

The guilty party in all food poisonings is bacteria, which enters our bodies through contaminated food. Wash hands, dishes, utensils, kitchen equipment and work surfaces before and after handling.

Be particularly careful around knives, washing them thoroughly after each use. And remember, even frozen food can contain bacteria.

2. Cook food carefully. Salmonella is a common cause of food poisoning and while it's normally not fatal, it is widespread.

It is typically found in raw meats, poultry, eggs, milk, fish and their by-products. Salmonella can only be destroyed by cooking food thoroughly and with temperatures above 140 degrees.

3. It's okay to thaw turkey in its original plastic for one to two days. After that, move the turkey to plastic wrap or foil. Don't keep it in its original wrapping for more than two days.

4. Thaw turkey or poultry inside the fridge, rather than elsewhere in your kitchen.

5. Don't stuff the turkey in advance and then refrigerate it. The core of the turkey is a perfect place for bacteria to grow. Remove all stuffing before refrigerating leftover meats. Also keep the stuffing, gravy or broth in a separate container.

6. Be careful around the booze. Adults, obviously, always should drink responsibly, but in large gatherings, it's important to be mindful of small children -- particularly those who aren't afraid to pick up discarded cups left behind by adults. Even small amounts of alcohol can poison a young child.

If you believe you've been exposed to a poison or have questions about whether a substance is poisonous, call your local poison control center at 800-222-1222.