LANSING – Many Michigan families celebrate Easter by decorating eggs and hosting Easter egg hunts.  The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) recommends following these quick handling tips to ensure a safe Easter holiday and meal:

Purchase eggs from refrigerated cases.

Check egg cartons before buying; do not buy cracked eggs.

Separate eggs and foods from raw meat, seafood and poultry in grocery carts and in your refrigerator.

Wash hands for in warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after each step of preparation from cooking to hiding.

Keep hard-boiled eggs, peeled or in the shell, in the refrigerator below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for no more than one week and store eggs in the refrigerator, not in the door.

Cook two sets of eggs—one to eat and one for the Easter egg hunt (which should be discarded).

For more information about food safety and proper food handling, visit www.michigan.gov/foodsafety or contact your local Michigan State University Extension agent.