Foodborne Illness

Get the facts about foodborne illnesses

Most incidents of foodborne illness are preventable with basic cross-contamination avoidance, proper cooking temperature and time, and adequate cleaning of food items.

The Dangers of Raw FoodsRaw foods are the primary point of transit for bacteria. Raw animal protein contains many different types of pathogenic microbes. E coli invades humans via uncooked meat. Most uncooked poultry is likely to have campylobacter. Shigella, hepatitis A and the parasites Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidia are not necessarily foodborne illnesses, but they, too, have spread to people via raw food.

In March 2009, the FDA asked Westco Fruit and Nut Co. to recall all of its products containing peanuts because of reports that at least some samples were infected with salmonella. Is salmonella a foodborne illness? Science is unequivocal that it is. Strains reach humans most often through uncooked eggs.

When you are handling raw food, make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards—and absolutely before you touch any kitchen items, such as door handles and cooking utensils, or any vegetables and other food items. Store raw meat in a freezer or at least refrigerate it. Keep it on the bottom shelf to prevent dripping fluids from contaminating foods below.

While most people know raw meat is dangerous, many don’t realize that raw vegetables, too, are potentially infectious. Pathogenic microbes from the soil or cross-contamination during cooking can make them springboards into your digestive system. After grocery shopping or before consumption, thoroughly rinse vegetables and wipe them down to remove excess soil. Some raw fruits and vegetables are best avoided altogether, like sprouts.

During the cooking process, do not allow any raw meat products to come into contact with foods to be consumed raw (fruits and veggies) or to cross with foods that you have just cut. Either way, you would be transferring microbes onto foods that are to be consumed without the benefit of heat to kill bacteria.

The Importance of Cleanliness

If your hands do come in contact with raw meat, immediately wash them thoroughly with soap. If not, you will cross-contaminate everything you come into contact with, including kitchen surfaces, other foods, dishes and utensils. With consistent practice of foodborne illness food safety, you can make the chance of a foodborne illness outbreak almost nil.