Safe Food: Cross-Contamination
Some foods are more associated with foodborne illnesses and food poisoning than others. They can carry harmful germs that can make you very sick if the food is contaminated.
- Raw foods of animal origin are the most likely to be contaminated, specifically raw or undercooked meat and poultry, raw or lightly cooked eggs, unpasteurized (raw) milk, and raw shellfish.
- Fruits and vegetables also may get contaminated.
- While certain foods are more likely to make you sick, any food can get contaminated in the field, during processing, or during other stages in the food production chain, including through cross-contamination with raw meat in kitchens.
Chicken, Beef, Pork, and Turkey
Thoroughly cooking chicken, poultry products, and meat destroys germs. Raw and undercooked meat and poultry can make you sick. Most raw poultry contains Campylobacter. It also may contain Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, Yersinia, and other bacteria.
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Fruits and Vegetables
The safest fruits and vegetables are cooked; the next safest are washed. Avoid unwashed fresh produce. Eating fresh produce provides important health benefits, but sometimes raw fruits and vegetables may cause food poisoning from harmful germs such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be contaminated anywhere along the journey from farm to table, including by cross-contamination in the kitchen. Tips for Fruits and Vegetables |
Raw Milk, Raw Milk Soft Cheeses, and Other Raw Milk Products
To prevent infection with Listeria and other harmful germs, don’t consume raw milk or soft cheeses and other products made from raw milk. You can get very sick from raw (unpasteurized) milk and products made with it, including soft cheeses (such as queso fresco, blue-veined, feta, brie and camembert), ice cream, and yogurt. That’s because raw milk can carry harmful germs, including Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella.
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Eggs and Salmonella
Cook eggs until the yolks and whites are firm.
Eggs can contain a germ called Salmonella that can make you sick, even if the egg looks clean and uncracked. Use pasteurized eggs and egg products when preparing recipes that call for raw or undercooked eggs. In addition:
Cook eggs until the yolks and whites are firm.
Eggs can contain a germ called Salmonella that can make you sick, even if the egg looks clean and uncracked. Use pasteurized eggs and egg products when preparing recipes that call for raw or undercooked eggs. In addition:
- Avoid foods that contain raw or undercooked eggs, such as homemade Caesar salad dressing and eggnog.
- Cook eggs until the yolks and whites are firm.
- Cook foods containing eggs thoroughly.
- Keep eggs refrigerated at 40°F or colder.
- Do not taste or eat raw batter or dough.