Although some foods are nutritious, they may not necessarily be safe. There has a lot of voiced concern over the safety of some of our everyday foods since the recent outbreaks of E. Coli and Listeria which have killed hundreds of people. Here are five foods which can potentially carry food bourne illnesses and which you should be extra cautious when eating.
1. Sprouts. Surprisingly alfalfa sprouts are at the top of the dangerous food list. In order to grow sprouts the seeds need to be kept moist which is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. There is not much that can be done to make sure that the sprouts are safe so you may want to substitute them for something like lettuce.
2. Rare beef. Beef is easy to undercook, especially in hamburgers. Beef has to be cooked to at least 160 degrees to kill potentially harmful bacteria. If it isn&undefined;t you run the risk of Salmonella or E. Coli poisoning. Be careful to cook your meat thoroughly or even substitute it for other foods which contain protein when you can.
3. Sushi. Sushi can be dangerous because raw fish may have parasites such as tapeworms, flatworms, and roundworms. If eaten they can make you very sick. If you must eat raw fish with your sushi, make sure you eat at a place where the Chef knows how to identify and remove the parasites. Also, if the fish is frozen before served as sushi it will reduce the risk of it carrying harmful parasites.
4. Cantaloupe. The rind that surrounds this delicious fruit may carry bacteria which can be transferred onto the fruit when it is prepared. Some people wash the outside of it but because of all the small creases it is hard to make sure you are totally safe.
5. Unpasteurized cheese. There are so many different kinds of delicious cheese out there, including some which are unpasteurized. Soft cheeses such as brie, feta, and goat cheese are all unpasteurized meaning that they may carry harmful bacteria. Those with weakened immune systems or women who are pregnant should not eat these kinds of cheese.
Although all of these foods have nutritional value to them, they can be harmful. It is not necessary to completely cut them out of your diet, but eat at your own risk!
