Actors who play the roles of heroes may shift their focus sometimes! They can wish to perform the roles of anti-heroes! Good or evil, heaven or hell, positive or negative is nothing but two sides of the same coin. Both the aspects are present side by side and may get converted into the other form due to situations. Same thing applies to food. It is the reason for our existence, but it can also put us into trouble! It is God because it is keeping us alive, but it can also show off its evil side by affecting our health adversely.
Sometimes, even the healthiest foods can cause food poisoning. Some foods are rather risky to eat without following a proper procedure for handling and cooking. The importance of food safety cannot and should not be underestimated if we want to ensure the safety of our families from the hidden dangers of improper handling. You will be surprised to note that many foods which can make you sick can actually form the components of a healthy diet.
Foods that may cause illnesses are:
- Fresh Green Leafy Vegetables: Although they are very healthy, but they have the possibility to get contaminated with manure, dirty water and harmful bacteria like E. Coli and Salmonella. To avoid getting sick, wash and rinse the green leafy vegetables several times in running tap water.
- Eggs: Undercooked eggs form a breeding zone for a variety of bacteria that can cause severe intestinal distress and even death in people with compromised immune system. Salmonella is the most common food borne bacteria with risks of contamination being higher in a restaurant setting when hundreds of eggs are used at any given time. The bacteria can lurk inside the egg, so proper cooking is the key to kill the germs. Therefore, always check the expiry date on the carton. If the egg is left overnight, then discard it. Cooking egg completely is the best defense.
- Canned Fish: Tuna and mackerel releases toxins if these are improperly cooked or not stored at temperatures less than 60 degrees fahrenheit (around 15.5 degree celsius) after being caught. To avoid getting sick, just check the expiry date. Proper cooking is the safest option to prevent undesirable health consequences.
- Other Sea Foods: Foods like oyster can cause sickness if they are raw and undercooked. They can get contaminated inside water since they are filter-feeders. Proper cooking is the key. Undercooked or raw sea foods can cause feeling of nausea or vomiting.
- Ground Meat: Ground meat is prone to an easy contamination. This can be attributed to the lots of processing that the meat has to go through during the procedure.
- Other Meats: Chicken and pork can also easily get contaminated. Pork meats carry parasites that can live and grow anywhere in our body. In general, avoid tainted meat. If the meat smell bad, just toss it. If it has developed a "sick-looking" color while in the refrigerator or has an "off-look" at the grocery store, then just discard it. If meat has been left out overnight, then just throw it in your garbage can.
- Green Onions: In the past, several Hepatitis A virus outbreaks have been associated with eating raw or undercooked green onions. To minimize the risk of illness, cook green onions thoroughly.
- Dairy Products: Food borne illnesses can be caused by dairy products like ice cream and cheese. Ice cream mix can become contaminated prior to use and making ice cream at home with raw eggs can cause sickness. Cheese can be contaminated with bacteria like Salmonella or Listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Avoid cheese made with unpasteurized or "raw milk". Avoid consuming milk or do not make any milk products from the milk obtained from a sick cow.
- Sprouts: Sprouts are also very vulnerable to bacterial contamination. The seeds used to produce the sprouts can be contaminated in the field. Water and the warm growing conditions that encourage germination may also boost bacterial growth. Elderly and young children and those with weak immune system must avoid having raw sprouts. Instead, they can consider having steamed sprouts.
- Restaurant Foods: Grouping restaurant foods as a whole, consumers are more likely to contract a food borne disease by eating out than they are by eating at home. Mass production of foods like eggs and foods containing eggs can also increase the risk of illness. Do not opt for fast foods, under cooked or poorly cooked food items.
You cannot expect an "All-Green" picture all the time. Heroes can sometimes turn out to be the best "villains" in their real lives and healthy foods can sometimes assume a villainous role to make you sick. Here is where you need to get more concerned about food safety. Proper washing, cleaning and cooking are a few of the food handling ways that can allow you to stay safe.
