How long can a Thanksgiving buffet sit out? A doctor explains

(CNN) — Nearly 82 million Americans are expected to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, including many of you.

As family and friends gather together to share meals, it may be good to remember that foodborne illnesses are on the rise . These are mostly preventable with the right precautions.

I want to make sure that the food my family and I are preparing is safe—and so are the leftovers, so I turned to CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously served as Baltimore’s health commissioner, where her responsibilities included overseeing food safety.

CNN: What causes foodborne infections?

Dr. Leana Wen: Foodborne infections are caused by pathogens, like bacteria, viruses and par