Cross Contamination
We all know about checking foods with a thermometer or waiting for the pop up timer to tell us the turkey is done, but have we really protected ourselves and our family from disease causing germs? Not if we used the same cutting board for preparing the turkey and then the vegetables, or if we forgot to wash our hands after handling the turkey and opened the refrigerator or oven door.
Remember that bacteria are looking for that free ride to a potential victim and the best method of transport or transfer is by the hands of the person preparing the meal or not washing that utensil before it contacts the next food.