Most common food borne Illnesses and how to prevent them
The bacteria and viruses that cause the most illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States are:
Salmonella (how to prevent) Quick Tips for Preventing Salmonella. Cook poultry, ground beef, and eggs thoroughly. Do not eat or drink foods containing raw eggs, or raw (unpasteurized) milk. If you are served undercooked meat, poultry or eggs in a restaurant, don't hesitate to send it back to the kitchen for further cooking
Norovirus (Norwalk Virus) (how to prevent) If you are ill with diarrhea or vomiting, do not cook, prepare, or serve food for others. Wash fruits and vegetables and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating them. Wash clothing or linens soiled by vomit or fecal matter immediately. Remove the items carefully to avoid spreading the virus.
Campylobacter (how to prevent) The most effective way to avoid campylobacteriosis is to cook poultry to at least 165 F. The meat should be white, not pink. You should never eat chicken that looks undercooked.
Heating foods and pasteurizing dairy products are the only ways of knocking out the bacteria in foods that have been contaminated.
Here are some other tips:
Wash your hands before cooking and after touching raw poultry or meat.
Keep uncooked meat and poultry away from other foods, such as vegetables, by using separate cutting boards, utensils, and cooking surfaces.
Wash your hands after touching a pet or pet feces.
Make sure your child or anyone with diarrhea washes his or her hands well.
E. coli (how to prevent) revention
No vaccine or medication can protect you from E. coli-based illness, though researchers are investigating potential vaccines. To reduce your chance of being exposed to E. coli, avoid risky foods and watch out for cross-contamination.
Risky foods
Cook hamburgers until they're 160 F.Hamburgers should be well-done, with no pink showing anywhere in the meat. But color isn't a reliable indicator of whether or not meat is done cooking. Meat â especially if grilled â can brown before it's completely cooked.
That's why it's important to use a meat thermometer to ensure that meat is heated to at least 160 F (71 C) at its thickest point.
Drink pasteurized milk, juice and cider. Any boxed or bottled juice kept at room temperature is likely to be pasteurized, even if the label doesn't say so.
Wash raw produce thoroughly.Washing produce won't necessarily get rid of all E. coli â especially in leafy greens, which provide many spots for the bacteria to attach themselves to. Careful rinsing can remove dirt and reduce the amount of bacteria that may be clinging to the produce.
Avoid cross-contamination
Wash utensils. Use hot soapy water on knives, countertops and cutting boards before and after they come into contact with fresh produce or raw meat.
Keep raw foods separate. This includes using separate cutting boards for raw meat and foods, such as vegetables and fruits. Never put cooked hamburgers on the same plate you used for raw patties.
Wash your hands. Wash your hands after preparing or eating food, using the toilet, or changing diapers. Make sure that children also wash their hands before eating, after using the bathroom and after contact with animals
Listeria (how to prevent) Rinse raw produce thoroughly under running tap water before eating. Keep uncooked meats, poultry, and seafood separate from vegetables, fruits, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat foods. Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources, such as meat, poultry, or seafood to a safe internal temperature.
Clostridium perfringens. (How to prevent) Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration, call your doctor. Thoroughly cook foods, particularly meat, poultry, and gravies, to a safe internal temperature. Divide leftovers into shallow containers and refrigerate immediately.
Where I got this information mostly food safety.gov
Ten question quiz
1 to prevent salmonella you must cook all meat and or eggs thoroughly (true false)
2 ecoli symptoms include flu like symptoms such as aches sore throat and runny or stuffy nose (try false)
3 a good was to prevent listeria is to properly cut raw vegetables (true false)
4 when dealing with any food positioning you should drink slots of fluids (true false)
5 all seafood is free of any food borne Illnesses (true false)
6 you should always call your doctor if any food poisoning symptoms worsen (true false)
7 you must always wash your hands (true false)
8 always keep raw foods separate to avoid cross contamination (true flase)
9 alway wash your utensils (true false)
10 when you have left overs of Meats you should always refrigerate immediately (true false)
Answer sheet
1 true
2 false
3 false
4 true
5 false
6 true
7 true
8 true
9 true
10 true
