Food poisoning is rough…I think we all can attest to that. In lieu of the recent Blue Bell recall, it’s important to know what foods are potentially risky.
1. Berries
Photo by Becky Hughes
Remember the Hepatitis A in berries recall? Always make sure to wash your berries. Don’t skip this step, even if you buy the berries frozen.
2. Lettuce
Photo by Laura Lim
According to the CDC, there were 8,836 reported cases of foodborne illness between 1998 and 2008 that were due to consumption of leafy greens. In case your lettuce is dangerous, make sure to thoroughly wash it before you add it to your salad.
3. Meat
Photo by Ben Rosenstock
You probably saw this one coming. Chicken, not beef, is the most common cause of meat-related foodborne illness. Don’t wash the chicken before you cook it because it will just put all the bacteria all over your sink. Follow these tips when cooking meat.
4. Raw Eggs
Photo by Kai Huang
I know how tasty cookie dough is, but when it has raw eggs in it, you run the risk of ingesting Salmonella, which is associated with raw eggs. Choose scrambled eggs over sunny side, and eat your cookies once they’re out of the oven.
5. Sprouts
Photo by Elyse Belarge
Not only do sprouts grow in warm, wet conditions, but they are very difficult to clean. In fact, it is recommended that the elderly, young children and those with weakened immune systems or those who are pregnant just stay away from sprouts. If you just have to eat them, however, sauté them first.
Go here for a list of outbreak investigations by year.
Hungry for more? Check out these articles: