Keeping Food Safe

Once again the headlines are full of food recalls and warnings about the safety of our food supply. Do you need to be worried? That depends... Here's the low down. Salmonella is a bacteria found in the intestines of humans as well as other animals. We contract it by consuming foods that have come into contact animal feces. It doesn't look or smell like spoiled food.


Let me say that again - salmonella infection does not cause food to smell or look spoiled. There are bacteria that smell bad (and spoil food) and there are bacteria which make us sick. They are not the same. Two things need to happen before we get sick from salmonella - the bacteria has to be present AND the infected food is not cooked sufficiently to kill the bacteria. That's right salmonella bacteria dies when cooked to a high enough temperature.

Beef, poultry, milk and EGGS are common sources but you can get a salmonella infection from any food, including vegetables. The food can be infected by people who have not washed their hands after using the bathroom or handled infected food. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) report 40,000 cases annually. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within 72 hours. Most people feel symptoms and recover without treatment. But sometimes it spreads to the bloodstream and throughout the body at which point it can be fatal if untreated.

The best way to treat is prevention - follow these tips:

• Cook food thoroughly. Conversely, don't eat or drink anything that contains raw eggs or unpasteurized milk.
• When eating out, return undercooked food
• Wash hands, utensils and kitchen surfaces with soap and water after they have had contact with raw food.
• Always wash hands after handling animals or babies' diapers
• Cross contamination occurs when raw food comes in contact with cooked food or foods that are consumed without cooking (fruit, vegetables etc). Contamination can also be transferred by utensils or surfaces that have had contact.
• Clean, Clean, Clean - EVERYTHING!

Be clean and careful and keep food enjoyable.

Happy, Healthy Eating

Marcia