11 foods that can make you sick

Eleven foods that can make you sick are foods with potential sources for food poisoning to watch out for this festive season particularly when cooking at home. The article explains how and why these 11 foods can make you sick, along with the palliative care you may need.

The reality is that if you eat or drink something that’s contaminated with gems, you can get sick with food poisoning.  Symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting (sick), diarrhea, which may contain blood or mucus, stomach cramps, abdominal pain, lack of energy, weakness, and general unwellness.

Often you get food poisoning from animal-based foods, dairy, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and poultry. So since the following 11 foods that can make you sick are favorites in many homes, the keyword is “caution”.

Pre-cut boxed fruits

Infections are more common when you buy pre-cut fruits like watermelon, pineapple, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon. The vines grow on the ground, where the rinds can pick up germs. In particular, pre-cut melon can pass on norovirus (stomach flu), listeria, and other harmful agents. Washed, whole melons are best. Refrigerate pre-cut fruits or pack them in ice.

Packed leafy greens

Fresh salads are another top source of food poisoning.  Some outbreaks are tied to a specific kind of leafy greens, often romaine lettuce and spinach. Or to certain growers or packers. Similarly, salmonella and other bacteria can be traced to dirty irrigation water, soil, or human hands. Germs multiply in the juice from cut leaves, get trapped inside the bags, and cling to the leaves even after washing.

Raw milk

Raw milk is from animals that haven’t been heated or pasteurized to kill bacteria. And it’s one of the most dangerous sources of foodborne illness. Bacteria such as E. coli, listeria, campylobacter, and salmonella can hide in raw milk. Then if consumed, it can cause diarrhea for days, vomiting, and serious illnesses that can lead to paralysis. Therefore, check your milk container to ensure it’s pasteurised, especially when buying at farmers markets.

Soft cheeses

Easting soft cheeses made with raw milk are much riskier than pasteurized cheeses because you’re more likely to pick up listeria.  Listeria can spread beyond your stomach causing headaches, loss of balance, and convulsions.  Also, it may lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery. Besides highly likely your newborn can catch listeria from you.

Eggs

Eggs with salmonella bacteria are major causes of food poisoning and even death in some cases. Bacteria can also infect eggs through chicken poop. So refrigerate eggs at or below 40 F. And if your recipes call for uncooked eggs, use pasteurized eggs.

Flour

Bakers beware! Although rare, raw flour can be contaminated with E. coli during harvesting, grinding, and sifting. Besides using bleaching flour won’t kill E. coli, which can cause bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and even kidney failure and death. Likewise, boxed cake mixes and prepared cookie dough also can harbor germs.

Sprouts

Raw and lightly cooked sprouts, especially clover and alfalfa, have been responsible for outbreaks of food poisoning since 2006. The same warm, humid conditions that nurture sprouts also promote salmonella, listeria, and E. coli. You might be tempted to toss these antioxidant-packed seedlings fresh into salads and sandwiches. But it’s safer to cook the sprouts first since washing won’t kill the germs.

Chicken

Chicken is a popular meat.  But every year millions of people get sick after eating chicken. Pathogens such as campylobacter and salmonella can get on the birds during processing and packaging, and travel down to your cutting board and utensils. Don’t wash raw chicken because it can contaminate your kitchen. Cooking to the proper temperature will kill any bacteria.

Oysters

Oysters draw food from coastal waters through their gills. And they trap viruses and bacteria in the same way. So eating raw oysters can give you vibriosis, which causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and chills. Likewise is the potential of catching norovirus. The only safe way to eat oysters is to cook them.

Ground beef

E. coli remains a major culprit behind undercooked meat food poisoning outbreaks.  Hence, cook steaks and roasts to 145 F on the inside, while ground beef and pork need to reach 160 F to be safe.

Hot dogs

These favorite staples are precooked.   But they can pick up listeria after they’ve been packaged. So to avoid illness, hot dogs should be just that: hot. Always reheat before you eat.

Treatment

Most food poisoning is mild, and resolves without treatment. Hence palliative care may be your first option: watchful waiting, fluid replacement, and oral rehydration solution (ORS). However, consult your doctor for medical advice if sickness and other food symptoms get worse.

Bottom line

You can come down with food poisoning from 20 minutes to 6 days after your meal. The last thing you ate isn’t always what made you sick. So, to avoid illness from these 11 foods that can make you sick, wash your hands frequently. Also, clean, wipe, sanitize, and disinfect kitchen tops. Additionally, separate foods to avoid cross-contamination. Lastly, keep hot food hot and cold food cold.

Photo Credit: Creative Commons