Food poisoning can be a life-threatening experience. It’s relatively hard to know if food is safe to eat because problems are relatively rare. But knowing which foods are most likely to make you sick can help.
Be particularly aware of the risks, but don’t avoid these types of food. These foods are part of a healthy diet.
1. Eggs
Egg has been linked to Salmonella bacteria outbreaks. The bacteria maybe present inside the egg, therefore proper cooking is necessary to kill the germs.
Steer clear of uncooked eggs yolks if possible. If you like your yolks runny, choose pasteurized eggs, which are treated by heat to kill bugs.
2. Seafood
Germs like Campylobacter and salmonella that can also affect clams and oysters, with an added risk of contamination with Vibrios, a bacteria that naturally occurs in ocean waters. You can get cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, chills and fever.
To prevent contamination cook seafoods to a temperature of 145 degrees to kill all those bacteria.
3. Leafy greens
Yes we know that leafy greens such as escarole, lettuce, spinach, endive, cabbage, arugula and kale, are your all time favorite for your salads. But they are also a major cause of reported cases of illness since 1990. This is because these vegetables can be contaminated by dirty water rinses, manure or unwashed hands before you even purchase them.
To prevent this, wash produce, handle meat properly to avoid spreading of bacteria, by washing your hands and using separate cutting boards.
4. Dairy Products
Dairy products and milk can be the caused for three quarters of Campylobacter infections. This can lay you up for a week with fever, diarrhea and stomach cramps.
Most of the bacteria are killed during pasteurization, but some may stay in soft cheeses and raw milk.
Reduce your risk by keeping dairy foods refrigerated. Make sure that your fridge is cold enough. Uses a backup pocket thermometer in addition to the one that are installed. Also put leftovers away within 1-2 hours or sooner if they’re outdoors especially on a hot day.
5. Potatoes
Potatoes that are properly cooked is unlikely to cause illness. But be extra careful with potato salad. Cross contamination or the transfer of germs from one type of food to another, can be the source of the problem.
Potato related outbreaks have been traced to germs such as Shigella, Listeria, Salmonella and E. coli.
