The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified some types of foods that can cause food poisoning. Food poisonings can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins or chemicals in food.
Ingestion of these contaminated foods can cause gastrointestinal illness and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever.
The photo gallery lists some of the most common foods, such as raw meat, raw eggs, and raw seafood, that can cause food poisoning. These foods are often associated with bacteria such as salmonella, listeria monocytogenes and E. coli, which can cause serious illness if ingested.
It is important to remember to follow food safety guidelines when preparing and handling food, such as washing hands thoroughly before preparing food, cooking food at safe temperatures, avoiding consuming raw or undercooked food, and storing food properly. (Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified certain types of foods that can cause food poisoning. Food poisonings can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins, or chemicals in food. Ingesting these contaminated foods can cause gastrointestinal illness and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. The photo gallery lists some of the most common foods, such as raw meat, raw eggs, and raw seafood, that can cause food poisoning. These foods are often associated with bacteria such as salmonella, listeria monocytogenes and E. coli, which can cause serious illness if ingested. (Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Raw or undercooked meat and poultry can contain various bacteria that can cause illness. Do not wash raw poultry or meat as this can spread the bacteria to other foods and surfaces. Cook meat and poultry completely, using a kitchen thermometer to check the internal temperature. Store leftovers at a temperature below 40°F within 2 hours of preparation. Large cuts of meat should be divided into small quantities for faster refrigeration.
Despite their health benefits, raw vegetables and fruits can cause food poisoning from harmful germs such as salmonella, E. coli and listeria. Contamination can occur anywhere from the field to the table and even in the kitchen.
Raw milk and products made from it can cause serious illness because they may contain harmful germs. Pasteurization of milk is necessary to kill disease-causing germs. The nutritional benefits of raw milk are also available in pasteurized milk without any risk. Listeria infection, although rare, can be serious for pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, causing miscarriages, stillbirths, pre-term delivery, and serious illness, including death of infants.
Eggs may contain salmonella, even if cleaned and undamaged. Use pasteurized eggs and cook them until fully cooked. Avoid foods containing raw or undercooked eggs such as Caesar salad dressing and eggnog. Keep eggs refrigerated (at 40° F or colder) and do not eat raw batter or pasta. When cooking eggs, make sure yolks and whites are firm.
To avoid foodborne infections, it is important to cook seafood at appropriate temperatures. It is recommended not to eat raw or undercooked fish, shellfish, or foods containing raw or undercooked seafood such as sushi. Oysters and other filter-feeding shellfish may contain viruses and bacteria that can cause illness or death, particularly when harvested from contaminated waters. To avoid food poisoning, it is important to cook oysters well.
Raw or undercooked sprouts can cause food poisoning from salmonella, E. coli or listeria because the hot and humid conditions required to grow them also promote germ growth. To reduce the risk of intoxication, it is advisable to cook sprouts thoroughly as this process kills harmful germs.
Flour is generally a raw agricultural product that has not been treated to kill germs. Harmful germs can contaminate the wheat while it is still in the field or at other stages of flour production. Bacteria are killed when the food made from the flour is cooked. That is why you should never taste raw dough or batter. It is important to remember to follow food safety guidelines when preparing and handling food, such as washing hands thoroughly before preparing food, cooking food at safe temperatures, avoiding raw or undercooked food and storing food properly. (source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)