It’s a strange contradiction that a food known to be good for you can also be the source of infections or toxins, and create the symptoms of food poisoning, but this is exactly the conclusion of a recently issued report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
Foods like leafy greens; berries, eggs and tuna may also be carrying some pretty nasty illnesses inside those healthy packages.
“We don’t recommend that consumers change their eating habits,” says Caroline Smith DeWaal, the CSPI’s head of food safety programs. The group hopes instead to point out the weaknesses in our food safety system.
Food recalls are nothing new, which is why we need to find trouble spots and get rid of them. There are several bills before Congress that would improve food safety by requiring all food producers to keep written safety plans, while also giving the FDA more power to check these plans and enforce the rules.
The authors of the report looked at Centers for Disease Control data on food borne illness outbreaks, going back as far as 1990. The number one food linked to illness? Leafy greens such as iceberg lettuce, romaine and spinach (among others) were the culprits in 363 outbreaks – causing 13,568 people to get sick. Most of these were caused by norovirus, E coli and salmonella.
Beyond those good-for-you-greens, here are the other foods that might pose a danger:
1) Eggs, involved in 352 outbreaks – 11,163 reported cases of illness.
2) Tuna, involved in 268 outbreaks – 2,341 reported cases of illness.
3) Oysters, involved in 132 outbreaks – 3,409 reported cases of illness.
4) Potatoes, involved in 108 outbreaks – 3,659 reported cases of illness.
5) Cheese, involved in 83 outbreaks – 2,761 reported cases of illness.
6) Ice cream, involved in 74 outbreaks – 2,594 reported cases of illness.
7) Tomatoes, involved in 31 outbreaks – 3,292 reported cases of illness.
Sprouts, involved in 31 outbreaks – 2,022 reported cases of illness.
9) Berries, involved in 25 outbreaks – 3,397 reported cases of illness.
Before you clear out your cupboards and fridge, understand that the CDC database used for the research can’t tell us if tomatoes or another ingredient in a salad was responsible for the illness.
And since foods like potatoes are typically eaten cooked, it’s probably not the veggie itself that causes the outbreak, but something in its handling (manure, contaminated irrigation water) or poor handling procedures that might be to blame.
Also the CDC data only includes foods that are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This leaves out some likely culprits – beef, poultry, pork and even some egg products, these are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Foods That Cause Illness Continued…
It’s also important to understand that not all food borne illness outbreaks are reported to authorities. This may be, as report author Smith DeWaal says “the tip of the iceberg.”
According to CDC numbers, 76 million Americans get a food borne illness each year. To keep yourself from being part of that number there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.
While the food supply in the U.S. is very safe, you should still make every effort to keep food cold and cook it thoroughly. Store leftovers right away. Avoid raw oysters, and if you do indulge, keep oysters chilled. Stay away from raw eggs, this includes eating uncooked batter.
Fresh produce has been touched by many hands, and should be washed with soap and water, to remove any bacteria that may remain on the skin that could make you sick.
Handling healthy foods (or any foods for that matter) properly can help you get all the nutritious benefits without being effected by the symptoms of food poisoning or other food borne illness.
Daily Health Bulletin
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