House parties tend to be popular during New Year’s Eve. In addition to the traditional champagne toast, they usually include a number of appetizers and entrees that guests will snack on throughout the night.

Judi Van Hulzen, a nurse at Marion County Public Health, says hosts and guests should take precautions to avoid foodborne illnesses. When preparing, be sure to sanitize items used after handling raw foods. During the party, she says to keep your hot foods hot, your cold foods cold, and to not leave perishable foods out for longer than two hours at a time. Van Hulzen recommends putting out fewer portions at a time or rotating foods in order to ensure bacteria don’t begin to grow.