When I’m dealing with raw chicken, I know that it needs to be thoroughly cooked though to avoid any risk of salmonella.
When I eat chips, I don’t think of salmonella at all -– which is why the recall of Old Dutch Cheddar and Sour Cream chips due to possible contamination was a huge surprise to me.
Humans contract salmonella from swallowing the bacteria, and contaminated foods usually come from animal sources, particularly in the form of raw meat. That being said, as long as you cook your food through thoroughly the salmonella bacteria will be killed and your food will be safe to consume.
So apart from raw or undercooked meat, what can lead to salmonella infection in something like potato chips?
In an email from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, a representative told Yahoo Canada Style that the seasoning mix used for Old Dutch Cheddar and Sour Cream chips had been made using milk powder that had been recalled in the U.S. due to potential contamination. According to the F.D.A. (Food and Drug Administration), the seasoning is applied after the product has been cooked.
Yikes!
Food can also be contaminated with salmonella if it is handled by a person who has not thoroughly washed their hands after dealing with contaminated foods or have been in contact with an infected animal (birds, reptiles, cats and dogs, other small pets).
If someone has contracted salmonella, they can be contagious from anywhere between several days to several weeks. If a contagious person has not properly washed their hands after using the bathroom, they can also pass on the bacteria to food.
For those that do become infected with the bacteria, short-term symptoms include chills, fever, vomiting, headache and diarrhea. While most healthy people will recover from it, for children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems it can require hospitalization and can even potentially be fatal.
So how do you stay safe?
Follow the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for updates on foods that have been recalled. For your own safety, always wash your hands thoroughly with warm soapy water and make sure utensils, counters or anything that comes into contact with raw meet is thoroughly cleaned. Ensure your poultry, pork and ground beef are always thoroughly cooked and avoid raw or undercooked eggs and unpasteurized dairy products.
It might seem a bit overwhelming, but given that 1 in 8 Canadians are affected by a food-borne illness every year, we should all be as careful as possible.
Let us know what you think about the recall by tweeting @YahooStyleCA.
Chips, crackers, soup, peanut butter, even frozen meals may pose a slight risk for salmonella infection. One salmonella outbreak was linked to peanut butter and packaged foods made with peanuts, including granola bars and cookies.
Salmonella is found in animal intestines, and contamination in food often comes from contact with feces. Feces can end up in processed dry-food products through contamination at the processing plant, due to unclean equipment or workers who do not properly wash their hands.
Expired chips are not likely to cause food poisoning, but if they are far past their expiration date, the oil in them can go rancid. Rancid oil doesn't contain any pathogens that would cause food borne illness, but it can cause stomach upset, cramping, and diarrhea, if enough of it is consumed.
In fact, about 1 in every 25 packages of chicken at the grocery store are contaminated with Salmonella. You can get sick from contaminated chicken if it's not cooked thoroughly. You can also get sick if its juices leak in the refrigerator or get on kitchen surfaces and then get on something you eat raw, such as salad.
People commonly get infected with Salmonella by eating contaminated food, such as: Raw or undercooked meat and poultry products; Raw or undercooked eggs and egg products; Raw or unpasteurized milk and other dairy products; and.
Washington, D.C.—Tomato juice can kill Salmonella Typhi and other bacteria that can harm people's digestive and urinary tract health, according to research published this week in Microbiology Spectrum, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
The most common way to get salmonella is from undercooked food or improper food prep, for instance: Eating uncooked or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood or eggs. Eating contaminated fruits and vegetables. Drinking contaminated water or unpasteurized milk.
Past U.S. outbreaks of salmonellosis have been associated with meat products, poultry products, raw or undercooked eggs and dough, dairy products, fruits, leafy greens, raw sprouts, fresh vegetables, nut butters and spreads, pet foods and treats.
"Non-perishables can be kept and consumed past the expiration date with only taste, quality and nutrition compromised," Petre says. So while non-perishables, like chips, might go stale over time, they shouldn't be unsafe to eat after their expiration.
The carbohydrates in refined foods — like chips, soda, and white bread — move through your digestive system quickly, leading to symptoms like bloating, cramping, and gas. The high fat and calorie content don't do much for your weight and blood sugar levels either.
Different types of snacks have varying expiration dates: Potato chips will last one month after expiration date. Crackers and pretzels can last up to three months. One of the longest lasting snacks is popcorn, which has a shelf life of one to two years. " / There is a myth that Twinkies can last upward of 50 years.
The incubation period for Salmonella gastroenteritis (food poisoning) depends on the dose of bacteria. Symptoms usually begin 6 to 48 hours after ingestion of contaminated food or water and usually take the form of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Most salmonella infections get better on their own with home remedies. That includes getting rest and drinking lots of fluids since vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration. You may want to use over-the-counter pain medication for discomfort and fever.
Some of the most common bacteria found in fish and chip shops include E. coli, salmonella and listeria. Viruses – Viruses such as norovirus and hepatitis A can be spread through contaminated food and cause gastrointestinal illness.
Salmonella infection is usually caused by eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs or egg products or by drinking unpasteurized milk. The incubation period — the time between exposure and illness — can be 6 hours to 6 days. Often, people who have salmonella infection think they have the stomach flu.
Like other junk foods, these chips contain refined ingredients and processed oils, Minchen says. They also lack good stuff like fiber and essential nutrients. Minchen's advice: “It's not the end of the world to enjoy some [chips] every so often, but they should not be a part of your regular diet.”
Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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