Eat at Your Own Risk
The 10 most hazardous foods—and how to eat them healthfully.
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Alfalfa sprouts
By Sally Wadyka for MSN Health & Fitness
When you think of "dangerous" food, it probably conjures up images of eating slugs and bugs on "Survivor." But most of the estimated 76 million Americans who experience food-borne illnesses each year are sickened by nothing more exotic than fruit, vegetables, grilled chicken or coleslaw at a summer picnic.
Here, the top 10 foods you want to consume with caution.
Alfalfa sprouts
The danger: "Sprouts are at the top of the list when it comes to potential problems," says Michael Doyle, Ph.D., director of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia. "The conditions for producing sprouts promote the growth of harmful bacteria." In order to grow sprouts, the seeds are soaked and kept moist—a prime breeding ground for bacteria. (Salmonella is the most common illness associated with sprouts).
The safer solution: While Doyle reports that some researchers are looking at ways to test the water in which sprouts are grown in order to identify batches that are contaminated, it's not yet a foolproof system, and recalls and illness outbreaks are still common. Growing sprouts yourself at home is also no guarantee of safety—the same conditions that breed bacteria in commercial sprouts can exist no matter how careful you are. Washing sprouts does not clean away harmful bacteria, so the only way to guarantee safety is to cook them. "Unfortunately, when you cook them, they pretty much disappear," says Ruth Frechman, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, who nonetheless mixes sprouts into cooked soups and stir-fries.
When you think of "dangerous" food, it probably conjures up images of eating slugs and bugs on "Survivor." But most of the estimated 76 million Americans who experience food-borne illnesses each year are sickened by nothing more exotic than fruit, vegetables, grilled chicken or coleslaw at a summer picnic.
Here, the top 10 foods you want to consume with caution.
Alfalfa sprouts
The danger: "Sprouts are at the top of the list when it comes to potential problems," says Michael Doyle, Ph.D., director of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia. "The conditions for producing sprouts promote the growth of harmful bacteria." In order to grow sprouts, the seeds are soaked and kept moist—a prime breeding ground for bacteria. (Salmonella is the most common illness associated with sprouts).
The safer solution: While Doyle reports that some researchers are looking at ways to test the water in which sprouts are grown in order to identify batches that are contaminated, it's not yet a foolproof system, and recalls and illness outbreaks are still common. Growing sprouts yourself at home is also no guarantee of safety—the same conditions that breed bacteria in commercial sprouts can exist no matter how careful you are. Washing sprouts does not clean away harmful bacteria, so the only way to guarantee safety is to cook them. "Unfortunately, when you cook them, they pretty much disappear," says Ruth Frechman, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, who nonetheless mixes sprouts into cooked soups and stir-fries.
Join the discussion!
#1
Monday, September 21, 2009 10:24:57 AM
This article is a bunch of B.S to fill space
#3
Tuesday, September 01, 2009 1:05:04 PM
The FDA, AS USUAL...who are in bed with the mega corporate food businesses of homogeneity. Both want us to kill any form of REAL food in the end. I will stay happy in my home with all my lacto-fermented goodness and living food.... pathetic article.
If you want real food, you have got to work for it. Pay no attention to this article!
#4
Thursday, August 27, 2009 1:00:59 PM
I'm going to be 71, a bit overweight because of spinal problems, but my entire life has been blessed with cantaloupe and all sorts of melons, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, raw hamburger (steak tartar) once in a while, runny eggs, cheese made from unpasteurized milk, lettuce (unwashed save for getting a little dirt off), and nothing has happened yet. If everyone were to do everything asked of him or her in this article, breakfast, lunch, and dinner were would take double the time; schedules would be screwed up; and no one would work an eight hour day because we would be washing and rewashing our food. A little dirt is good for all of us. How the hell did civilization survive?
#5
Tuesday, August 04, 2009 9:35:52 AM
Whoever wrote this article, COME ON!!! And to anyone taking this article seriously, USE YOUR HEAD! This article must have been written by a paranoid schizophrenic. I've worked in the food industry for almost 6 years now and I serve raw sprouts (plus pretty much everything else listed in the article) to many people everyday! And I have NEVER seen or even heard of anyone getting sick from them. This is just plain ridiculous, please don't take this seriously, just use your common sense and wash your food thoroughly, and NOT WITH BLEACH! WOW!!!!!!!!!!! If you feel the need, you can use salt water or apple cider vinegar.
Sunday, May 03, 2009 8:59:12 PM
It seems that poor illegal aliens are responsible for the contaminated food supply in the USA. He is blamed for crapping and **** in the fields No American has ever done such a thing in his life.... if a hot one happen to strike when he was out hiking / walking /camping. Good lord stop blaming the poor illegal alien for your problems. Just practice safe hygiene and teach it in schools as early as pre school. Have a public poster campaign around cities and on telly. Please do not expose your level of education by putting blame on those poor illegals. Remember they are human beings first, one day you might need Mexico to run to and he might be the one you turn to for help. And never say never!
Sunday, May 03, 2009 8:01:20 PM
the raw beef isn't entirly true, whole cuts only require the outside to be cooked
#8
Sunday, May 03, 2009 7:54:41 PM
This article is just plain paranoid. If you don't know how to handle food safely, stay out of the kitchen. Go out to some restaurant where you really take a chance with food. The media loves to make headlines with this type of scare. In the past two years, 'information' is nothing but stupidity by the writer and whoever ok'S the articles. THIS IS NOT NEWS!!!!!
#9
Sunday, May 03, 2009 7:53:53 PM
The pasteurization process was originally intended as a way of preventing wine and beer from souring according to Wikipedia. Pasteurization is not intended to kill all pathogens in the foods. Pasteurization reduces the number of pathogens so it's less likely to cause disease. Pasteurization of milk eliminates the spread of diseases such as diphtheria, tuberculosis, and brucellosis (a disease that primarily infects cattle but may rarely infect humans), through contaminated milk.
And, as the point was made; it's not the food we need to worry about, it's the handling; with the exception being the egg where the infection can come from within.
#10
Sunday, May 03, 2009 7:01:13 PM
delightedtobeafarmer -- This information is mostly about the handling of the food. Food that is brought into this country does not meet the same high standards as those of the American farmer. Re-read the above and you will see it is about how improrper handling can cause problems.
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