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As Americans across the country fire up their grills for the holiday weekend, it's important to keep in mind the possibility of illnesses from raw meat. This is especially crucial in light of the beef recall that's been in the news lately. The United States Department of Agriculture has collected some tips that I would like to share with you to keep you and your family safe.

1. Just because a meat's color may make it look fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to double-check. Ground beef and hamburgers should have an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. After buying meat, refrigerate it within two hours and within one hour if it's hotter than 90 degrees outside. Also, refrigerate cooked meat within two hours of cooking it.

3. Before and after handling raw meat, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with hot, soapy water. This also applies to any cookware or utensils used to prepare the food, like dishes and cutting boards. 

4. Keep raw meat separate from food that will not be cooked.

5. For more information or updates in regards to recent meat recalls, you can visit the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service at AskKaren.gov or by calling the USDA's hotline at 888-674-6854.