Protect Yourself Against Food Poisoning


With a recent string of Salmonella poisoning cases popping up in the Northeast, it's a good time to remind you how to protect your family from this potentially deadly illness.

Salmonella poisoning is characterized by diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 72 hours of eating contaminated food. It's a fairly common illness, affecting up to 4 million people per year. Most infected people recover without any treatment, but severe cases may require rehydration or antibiotics and, if left untreated, may lead to death.

Salmonella bacteria are most commonly associated with raw or undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs; however, all foods (including vegetables) are in danger of contamination. The bacteria are usually spread through contact with the feces of people or animals, and there is no way to identify contaminated foods by sight or smell.

To avoid Salmonella poisoning, take the following precautions:

Cook all meat and poultry until well-done
Don't eat raw eggs (this includes hollandaise sauce, some homemade salad dressings, homemade mayonnaise, homemade ice cream, raw cookie dough, and frosting)
To avoid cross-contamination, use separate cutting boards to prepare meat and vegetables
Wash your hands after handling raw meats
Thoroughly wash all vegetables
Wash your hands after possible contact with animal feces (reptiles, in particular, are well-known Salmonella carriers)
With proper care, you won't have to worry about Salmonella affecting you!


Taken from the Daily dish, SOBE