Foods That May Poison You
KILLER FOOD
Just when you thought your grocery store was safe…! Certain foods are more likely than others to give you food poisoning. The Center for Science in the Public Interest compiled a list of the top 10 foods that have been linked most often to outbreaks of food poisoning in the last 20 years. Watch out for the following offending items!
-Leafy greens- They can easily be contaminated by dirty water or manure. Always wash your salad greens before eating.
-Eggs- Raw eggs can carry Salmonella. Avoid eating things with raw egg in them (such as cookie dough) and always cook eggs thoroughly.
-Tuna- Fresh fish releases a toxin called scombrotoxin when it is stored at temperatures above 60 degrees. Unfortunately, cooking doesn’t destroy the toxin.
-Oysters- This delicacy is often eaten raw, but if the shellfish are contaminated by dirty water or improper handling, they can carry norovirus.
-Potatoes- Potato salad is sometimes cross-contaminated- meaning it picks up germs from coming into contact with raw meat. Normally, a clean, cooked potato is safe.
-Cheese- Many cheeses can carry Salmonella and other toxins, which is why pregnant women are advised to avoid certain types of cheese.
-Ice cream- Like any dairy product, ice cream can be contaminated if it’s not properly pasteurized. And homemade ice cream can contain raw eggs.
-Tomatoes- They’ve been linked to outbreaks of food poisoning in the past. Make sure to wash produce thoroughly, handle it with clean hands and keep it from coming into contact with raw meat.
-Sprouts- Though they’re healthy, the growing conditions for sprouts can breed bacteria. Young children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems should avoid them.
-Berries- Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries have all been linked to outbreaks.
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