drink food
1 April 2023 | 13:41
Onions, peaches, and deli meats, jeez—these are just some of the dangerous foods lurking in your pantry.
Final Study by Consumer Reports It reveals the 10 kitchen staples frequently associated with food recalls from 2017 to 2022, some of which may surprise you.
The report noted that approximately 48 million people fall ill from salmonella, listeria, Escherichia coli or other foodborne bacteria or viruses each year, resulting in nearly 130,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.
“We’re not saying people need to avoid these foods completely,” said Brian Ronholm, CR’s director of food policy, who led the analysis.
Instead, consumers should be aware of the “importance of following food safety best practices with all your foods, including knowing how to track and respond to food recalls when they occur.”
Leafy greens, such as those in packaged salads, would appear with 11 deaths, 614 illnesses, and 50 recalls/outbreaks.
Escherichia coli and listeria are to blame, and CR said the likely cause was water contaminated with bacteria from animal feces which was then used to irrigate crops.
Most of the country’s lettuce comes from California and Arizona, so one facility that goes down can cause widespread problems.
“The concentration in the salad processing industry means a greater opportunity for contamination and a larger outbreak when it occurs,” said Dr. Michael Hansen, chief scientist of CR.
Eating raw green vegetables doesn’t help, as heating kills bacteria.
Experts recommend buying whole lettuce, rather than bags or boxes of greens, and removing the outer leaves, where bacteria are often found.
Lettuce grown in a greenhouse is also less likely to come into contact with manure. Or ditch the salad altogether and have cooked vegetables instead.
The report also lists deli meats and cheeses — such as deli meats, cheese slices, or soft cheeses — as potential sources of listeria, which can cause serious (and sometimes fatal) infections.
CR counted seven deaths, over 400 illnesses and 122 outbreaks/recalls over five years.
Experts advise breaking the “diet nightmare,” eating sodium-packed deli meat altogether.
Packaged ground beef isn’t safe either — 22 outbreaks linked to E. coli and salmonella contamination have been reported.
In particular, a lethal strain of bacteria can pass from the cow’s intestines into the meat.
Salmonella is a bigger problem, and preparation is key.
Thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator, and cook ground beef and pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit and whole cuts, such as steaks, to 145 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any bacteria. Refrigerate leftovers immediately.
Onions are the “big surprise” on the CR menu. But in 2020 and 2021, a number of red, white and yellow onions were recalled due to salmonella.
Cooking onions kills any bacteria, and choosing vegetables that aren’t bruised and stored out of the sun is a way to avoid foodborne illness.
Turkey and chicken are in the top six in the CR report, thanks to salmonella, which the publication blames for plucking and the sloppy conditions in which the birds are raised.
CR recommends cooking chicken and turkey in all forms to 165 degrees Fahrenheit and not rinsing the poultry to reduce the risk of spreading salmonella in the kitchen.
Pre-chopped fruits such as papayas, peaches, and watermelon — eaten raw — also carry a salmonella risk.
Dr. James E. “When you cut produce, you increase the risk of transferring bacteria that may be on the surface to the meat,” says Rogers, director of CR’s Division of Food Safety Research and Testing.
“In a commercial facility, with fruit and vegetables being processed in one location, this can create opportunities for cross-contamination to occur.”
Among papayas, melons and peaches, more than 700 diseases and 22 recalls/outbreaks have been reported.
Finally, and perhaps most surprising, is raw flour.
As tempting as it may be, don’t eat the dough or dough raw — even though they’re tasty, they can be contaminated with bacteria.
Cooking is the only way to kill it and ensure safe eating, and experts recommend thoroughly washing surfaces, dishes and your hands when they come in contact with raw flour.
The CR results coincide with an urgent notification from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which this week warned people not to eat raw or undercooked flour because of salmonella outbreaks in 11 states that have hospitalized three people.
“Flour doesn’t look like raw food, but most of it is raw,” the agency warned.
To stay safe from foodborne illness, heed reminders and practice proper cooking techniques, including diligent washing of work surfaces and anything that touches raw meat; and cook food well.
