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10 Common Food Safety Mistakes

posted by Annie B. Bond Jan 31, 2000 11:56 pm
10 Common Food Safety Mistakes
3 comments

Adapted from Overkill by Dr. Kimberly M. Thompson, Harvard School of Public Health (Rodale, 2002).

Most food safety mistakes are made innocently, simply because we
didn’t know the rules. And with so many of us juggling multiple
responsibilities at work and home, it’s no wonder that we are
more concerned with convenience and saving time than we are with
washing that head of lettuce thoroughly before using it or heating
up the leftovers to the proper temperature.

Read the top 10 most common food safety mistakes, and their solutions

1. Assuming that “prewashed” fruits and vegetables are really clean and ready-to-eat.

Solution: Wash all fruits and vegetables.

2. Thinking a hamburger is done because it tastes fresh and “looks” done.

Solution: Use a meat thermometer test and make sure it is cooked through to at least 160F.

3. Putting the grilled meat back on the same plate after you finish cooking or grilling it.

4. Tasting homemade cookie dough or cake batter that contains raw eggs.

5. Using the same dishtowel to wipe your hands and the counters.

6. Stuffing a chicken or turkey hours before cooking.

7. Eating cheese with mold on it, or other old food. (This isn’t about “bleu” cheese.)

8. Eating unwashed fruits.

9. Eating foods packed in dented or bulging cans.

10. Throwing suspect food away after eating it. (If there is a contaminant present in a food you ate, you will need to know what it was so that you can get the proper treatment.)

More on Eating for Health (262 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3248 articles available)

3 comments

Go to the Source

Overkill

by Dr. Kimberly M. Thompson, Harvard School of Public Health. How Our Nation's Abuse of Antibiotics and Other Germ Killers is Hurting Your Health and What You Can Do About It.buy now

3 comments

add your comment »
3 comments add your comment
Jennifer Wilson

Activated charcoal should be used with cation. I have never personally taken it but it is used in hospital emergency departments to treat poisoning. However, when used in this way, the activated charcoal is given in relatively large doses. You should never attempt to treat poisoning yourself with this preparation. Cases of poisoning should always be taken directly to a hospital emergency department, where the most appropriate treatment can be administered.

This is not recommended for children under 12 years of age. And, if you are taking any other medicines, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.

Jennifer W.

Always have charcol capsules with you when you eat out. At first sign of food poison take them and then every hour after that until subside. Also good for diarrah and flu. Charcol can save you a lot of sickness. Every household should have a bottle. Do some reserch on it and you will be suprized.

Jess P.
  • Jess P. says
  • Jun 14, 2007 2:16 PM

Coming from someone who had e-coli last year: be careful with all food - in and out of the house. Always wash veggies and fruits before it goes into your mouth and just be wary if you eat cut fruit in restaurants. I was lucky only to be in the hospital for 5 days after having a "fever" for almost a week- it could have been alot worse. Being "on the verge" of anything is never a good sign. I realize I may be one person commenting on one condition but a piece of advice, if you can't resist fruit in restaurants and you get a fever shortly after that lasts longer than 4-5 days GO TO THE DOCTOR OR ER! Don't chance your life! The 6th day could've been my last and I'm grateful that it wasn't.

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Adapted from Overkill by Dr. Kimberly M. Thompson, Harvard School of Public Health (Rodale, 2002). Copyright (c) The Philip Lief Group. Reprinted by permission of Rodale Press.

Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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