| With my busy schedule I often find myself eating out | | | | Whenever you cooking meat make sure that you |
| more than I should. The convenience is great but the | | | | cook ground beef to 160 degrees, chicken to 180 |
| risks could be plentiful. It all comes down to the lack of | | | | degrees, and pork to 160 degrees. When thawing |
| control. When we are cooking in our own kitchen it's | | | | frozen foods, don't try to rush the process, simply take |
| easy to cautious about food preparation and handling. | | | | the time and allow the food to thaw in the fridge. |
| But in restaurants this process is usually in the hands | | | | Keep cooked foods, raw meat, and any foods that |
| of someone we don't know. | | | | require refrigeration out of the danger zone-this is the |
| It's not uncommon for people to experience food | | | | temperature range between 41 degrees and 140 |
| poisoning several times in their lives. The symptoms | | | | degrees. Bacteria breed quickly at these temperatures. |
| include stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. You'll | | | | Cross contamination: Whenever you are working with |
| also feel weak and may even run a fever. It lasts a | | | | raw meats, take care to avoid cross-contamination. |
| day, sometimes two, and then you feel better. | | | | Wash your hands after touching raw meat and before |
| People often recognize these symptoms as a 24-hour | | | | you touch other foods. Also, be careful to put cooked |
| stomach virus. The reason why we mistaken food | | | | foods onto a clean plate rather than one that held raw |
| poisoning as another type of medical condition is | | | | meat. |
| because exposure to food borne bacteria doesn't | | | | Good washing habits: There are two washing habits |
| always affect everyone in the same way. And even | | | | you should remember when it comes to handling |
| though you might enjoy a meal with your family and | | | | foods. The first is to wash your hands well and often. |
| feel fine, your wife might be miserable two hours later. | | | | Wash before you begin. Wash again after each time |
| Your resistance to food poisoning could also be | | | | you handle meat. The second rule is to wash produce |
| related to your immune system and how it handles the | | | | thoroughly before preparing, especially if you are going |
| invading bacteria. But food poisoning shouldn't be taken | | | | to eat it raw. |
| lightly because regardless if it's mild or serious you | | | | Recognize Severe Food Poisoning and Avoid Disaster |
| health is at risk. | | | | Most cases of food poisoning are mild and require no |
| But the good news is...there are plenty of ways to | | | | medical attention. You spend a day or two resting and |
| avoid this common medical condition. Just an "ounce of | | | | feeling miserable. After that you feel better. |
| prevention is worth a pound of cure" and here's a few | | | | If you're lucky, you'll never experience food poisoning |
| great tips to protect you and your family. | | | | worse than this. You should know how to recognize |
| Prevent Food Poisoning in Four Easy Steps | | | | and respond to severe food poisoning because it can |
| It's simple to prevent mild cases of food poisoning. You | | | | be deadly. As the recent tomato scare shows, food |
| can do it if you remember four things. | | | | poisoning can lead to serious medical problems |
| Selection: Common sources of food poisoning are | | | | requiring hospitalization. More than 300,000 people |
| meats, produce, and canned foods. Most meat and | | | | spend time in the hospital because of food poisoning |
| produce related food poisoning can be avoided | | | | every year. |
| through proper cooking, washing, and handling. | | | | E. coli and salmonella are the two most common |
| You should also avoid foods that have an FDA | | | | culprits in severe food poisoning cases. If you |
| warning out regarding their safety. For example, | | | | experience typical food poisoning symptoms |
| tomatoes were suspect during the last couple of | | | | (cramping, discomfort, diarrhea), but you can't 1) keep |
| months. Even with proper washing, people were still | | | | down fluids, 2) have excessive or bloody diarrhea, or |
| getting sick, so the FDA released a warning. | | | | 3) develop jaundiced skin (yellowing of the skin), then |
| When it comes to choosing canned foods, pass over | | | | it's time to go to the hospital. |
| those that are dented. Dents can lead to contamination | | | | In these cases, you need medical treatment. Without it, |
| of the food within. | | | | your organs may become permanently damaged, |
| Temperature: Keeping foods at the proper | | | | which certainly will lead to serious health problems. |
| temperature-especially dairy, eggs, and meats-is very | | | | In most cases food poisoning isn't serious it's just very |
| important. To properly store foods, keep your freezer | | | | uncomfortable. Remember, you can prevent most |
| set to zero degrees Fahrenheit and your fridge set 37 | | | | food poisoning by taking the steps I outline above. |
| to 40 degrees. | | | | |