As part of its preparations for Thanksgiving, the USDA has sent out a “Holiday food safety kit” which includes a warning about the proper preparations required while assembling a “Turducken.” (A ‘Turducken’ is a layered roast chicken, stuffed into a duck, stuffed into a turkey)

“Critical control points involved in handling this risky assemblage are many, especially if the dish is made by a consumer and not in a USDA-inspected plant,” warns the government fact-sheet prepared by the Food Inspection Service.

The over 800 word document warns consumers about the dangers of bacteria – instructing them to keep the meat of the three birds at the proper temperature while assembling the elaborate stuffed poultry.

“Make sure the birds and stuffing are not out of the refrigerator in the ‘Danger Zone’ — between 40 and 140 °F—more than 2 hours while assembling the turducken,” the sheet instructs. “Roast immediately after assembly.”

Any questions? Call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline. . .