Last year we were all told to stay away from spinach because of the E. Coli breakout that tainted thousands of spinach crops. This past summer there was the whole scare with tomatoes which had all of asking, “No tomatoes please!” The Center for Science in the Public Interest is doing its job and has put into print a list of the top 10 most “risky foods.”
Leafy greens, eggs, tuna, oysters, potatoes, cheese, ice cream, tomatoes, sprouts and berries made this list. (Leafy greens being the most at risk.) The FDA compiled this list by looking at the number of people falling ill in association with the food since 1990. This top 10 list overall has caused more then 1,500 outbreaks and 50,000 reported illnesses. The Center also wants to make clear that most are not reported or treated so these numbers only show the amount of people who did seek medical attention.
The number one culprit, leafy greens, is responsible for 363 outbreaks and 13,568 illnesses while berries coming in at number ten had 25 outbreaks and 3,397 illnesses. E. coli, Norovirus and Salmonella are the three illnesses and the severity ranged from stomach pain to death.
Personally I am a fan of most of the foods on this list so you would see why I have a problem with all of this. So pretty much as consumers we have to find a way to eat all the foods we like but still be conscious on preparing them in a way that keeps up healthy.
1. Dairy - salmonella happens when things aren’t refrigerated so don’t leave things out on the counter once you’ve gone grocery shopping. Get everything in the cold as soon as possible.
2. Fish and Shellfish- need to be put on ice as soon as they are caught so you’re part is to get them in the freezer or refrigerator as soon as you get home.
3. Vegetables- although most vegetables are not at risk make sure when you are cooking them they are not coming in contact with raw meats or fish.
** These websites have information on how to cook without putting yourself at risk **
http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/06/news/companies/riskiest_foods/index.htm?postversion=2009100609
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/e-coli/DS01007/DSECTION=prevention
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/food-aliment/salmonella-eng.php
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It is good that the FDA complied a list of these foods and released it to the public so they could be informed consumers. However, people need to use common sense in preparing their food before they eat it. A lot of these people who got sick probably didn't properly wash their greens or refridgerate dairy products long enough. I believe that although some people on this list probably had a food allergy or got stuck with food that wasn't fresh, most things of this nature are preventable, with the use of common sense.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with you 100%...I probably should have written this in here but the only reason tuna was put on this list is because mayo is a dairy product that goes bad quickly if left out and people dont realize that. Common sense people.
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