Top 7 Tips for Preventing Food Poisoning

Also known as foodborne illness, this fast-moving illness is caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites, or the toxins they produce. Typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and cramps, and watery diarrhea.

While most cases of food poisoning are mild and resolve themselves, some require hospitalization. Regardless of the severity, it is no fun having it and here is how to avoid it.

1. Cleanliness.

Wash hands, utensils and food surfaces with hot soapy water before food handling or preparation.

2. Prevent cross-contamination.

This commonly happens when juices from raw meat, poultry, fish or shellfish stored above fresh fruits or vegetables or ready-to-eat food drips down and contaminates it. Raw foods should always be on the bottom.

3. Cook foods to a safe temperature.

Don’t rely on how a cooked food looks; use a food thermometer. These foods should have an internal Fahrenheit temperature of: poultry – 165; ground beef – 160; pork and seafood – 145.

4. Promptly refrigerate or freeze leftover food.

Food should never be left out over two hours after purchasing or cooking. And if the room temperature is above 90 F, that time should be cut to no more than one hour.

5. Defrost food properly.

Never defrost food by leaving it out at room temperature. The safest way is to allow food to defrost slowly in your refrigerator.

If you need to defrost something quickly, use the “Defrost” or “50%” setting on your microwave and then cook immediately.

6. Store food at the proper temperature.

Food kept in the refrigerator should be at 40 degrees F; frozen food at 0 degree F.

7. When in doubt, throw it out.

If you are unsure if food is safe or not, throw it out. None of us like to waste food, but it is better than getting sick.

Food poisoning can be serious and even life-threatening for certain groups of people. The young and old, along with pregnant women and anyone with a compromised immune system, should avoid these foods:

• The raw variety of meats, fish and shellfish, and eggs
• Unpasteurized juices, milk and milk products
• Pates and meat spreads
• Soft cheeses
• Uncooked hot dogs and deli/luncheon meats

Finally don’t let your guard down when traveling. Keep foods cold by using coolers, insulated bags, ice packs and portable refrigerators. If not possible to wash your hands before eating, at least use a hand sanitizer containing at least 62% alcohol.

Use all of the tips in this article to minimize the risks of getting Salmonella or other foodborne illnesses. When it comes to food, you can never be too careful.


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Related Reading: How To Learn Healthy Cooking guide

Which Fast Foods are the Healthiest?

Sometimes when you're out and about, you just need a meal fast. But you don't have to resign to the fact that you'll just have to eat unhealthy because you've chosen a fast food joint.

There are healthy alternatives mixed in among all the fattening choices. Your best bet is to learn what makes each item unhealthy and choose one of the healthy items.

It'll also help if you study the menus of some of your favorite fast food restaurants. You'll most likely be able to look up their nutrition facts online.

Here's a list of some things to look for:

1. Grilled Meats.

Grilled meats are a much healthier way of cooking rather than deep fried, breaded meats. If the fast food place you're visiting has the option of choosing crispy or fried chicken versus a grilled patty, choose the grilled one.

2. Skip the Cheese.

While eating some cheese is okay once in awhile, you should avoid it when it comes to keeping fast food calories down. Order the hamburger instead of the cheeseburger.

3. Healthier Sides.

Some fast food places will offer alternatives to a side of fries. You should inquire about this because you may be able to opt for some healthy fruit or salad instead.

4. Don't Super Size.

While it's tempting to grab some extra food for just a few pennies more, it'll bump up your portion size far more than you should be eating in one sitting.

5. Diet Soda.

Some people will laugh at the person who orders the big greasy meal and then orders a diet soda, as if it'll make a difference. Well it does make a difference, but you need to avoid the big greasy meal in the first place!

Healthy Meals At Popular Restaurants

Here's a list of some healthy choices you can make at some of the most popular fast food restaurants:

1. Taco Bell.

Taco Bell has come out with a "Fresco Style" menu that allows you to choose popular menu items in a lower calorie style. A menu item ordered fresco style will come back with a special healthier salsa and it'll also lack cheese.

2. McDonalds.

McDonalds has made recent strides toward a healthy menu also. They now offer an extended list of premium salads. However, it's still easy to get fooled into thinking something is healthy when it really isn't.

Make sure you use a low fat dressing on your salad and opt for the grilled chicken. If you grab the ranch and crispy chicken, you may as well be ordering a Big Mac!

3. Subway.

This sandwich shop is one of the most popular healthy and delicious fast food choices. It's truly easy to choose a sandwich that'll be good for you when they have a full menu of items that contain only 6 grams of fat or less. But make sure to avoid the creamy, full-fat dressings.

4. Wendy's.

If you order a value meal you can definitely opt out of the fries. You can substitute for a baked potato, mandarin oranges, and more.

5. Burger King.

Like the rest of the popular fast food chains, Burger King has followed suit and made changes. You can opt for healthier alternatives like salads, chicken and fish.

6. Chipotle.

Chipotle is a Mexican restaurant that is gaining popularity. They have come under scrutiny for offering oversized portions. To combat the portion size, you can simply cut your meal down in half and save the rest for later.

It's also best to order your meal as a bowl instead of a burrito, because the tortilla shell alone can really pack on the calories.

For all other restaurants, you can make an educated decision about the healthy items from the menu. If you're unsure, ask an employee about their healthy options.

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