Food “safety” gone WRONG?

Food-borne illnesses are nothing to mess around with.

Even a small bit of food that isn’t WASHED thoroughly or COOKED properly can unleash a slew of germs and bacteria that can leave your violently ILL…

Or land you in the HOSPITAL!

But even if you keep your kitchen so sparkling that Mr. Clean would be jealous, today we’re debunking some common misconceptions about food “safety” can actually do more harm than good!

A clean kitchen—and safe food storage and preparation—are the first steps to making ANY meal.

The best restaurants in the world pride themselves on keeping their kitchen and food clean.

But did you know that it’s possible to go OVERBOARD—especially when it comes to foods you should vs. shouldn’t WASH?

Take poultry for example. Many folks might think that giving some raw chicken or turkey a wash or rinse in the sink before cooking will rid the meat of unwanted bacteria.

But rinsing raw poultry actually SPREDS germs and bacteria throughout your sink… increasing the risk of bacteria landing on other foods.

In fact, one study published on WebMD found that, when people washed raw poultry for a meal, 60% had bacteria in their sink afterward, and 26% had transferred the bacteria to their salad lettuce.

YUCK!

At the other end of the spectrum, there are foods like avocados that don’t get washed ENOUGH. Many folks neglect to thoroughly wash the skin of food like avocados—simply because you don’t eat the skin.

But that skin can carry germs and bacteria. And when your knife cuts through the skin, it can transfer those germs right into the part of the avocado you DO eat.

The bottom line?

Always err on the side of caution and wash food when directed. And when it comes to meats—consider not rinsing them as it will spread more germs. Cooking them properly, thoroughly, and checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer will ensure you’re zapping any dangerous germs of bacteria.

To safe food,

Sarah Reagan

Sources:

WebMd. “Should You Wash This Food?” https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/ss/slideshow-should-you-wash-this-food