With all the hubbub over contaminated tomatoes in the news, I thought this would be a good time to take a look at different ways you can prevent salmonellosis — food poisoning with salmonella bacteria.
- Don’t eat raw or undercooked eggs. Eggs are a common carrier of salmonella. Beware of raw eggs in some foods like salad dressings, sauces, and condiments. And try to resist tasting cookie or cake batter!
- Don’t eat raw or unpasteurized milk products or dairy products. Pasteurization treats milk and dairy products to make them safer for eating.
- Cook meats until they are well done. Meats are a common carrier of salmonella. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is at a safe level — don’t just trust the color of the meat.
- Wash your produce before eating it. Just washing your produce under running water can reduce a lot of contaminants to safe levels!
- Avoid cross-contamination of foods. Keep uncooked meats separate from produce and other foods. Use separate cutting boards for meats and produce, if you can — or just wash hands, cutting boards, counters, and utensils between preparing one and the other.
- Wash your hands before handling any food.
- Wash your hands between handling different food items. This one can be a hassle when you’re preparing a meal, but it’s a great way to keep your kitchen and foods sanitary and safe.
- Wash your hands after contact with animal waste.
- Wash your hands after handling pets. Reptiles, small rodents, and other pets can be carriers of salmonella. Be sure to clean your hands between touching a pet and touching food.
If you do have food poisoning from salmonella, take a few days off from the kitchen. Don’t prepare food or drinks for others if you have salmonellosis — you might unintentionally pass it along.