Food Poisoning

Out of every six Americans, one is sickened by food poisoning each year. Learn what you can do to reduce your risk as you shop, cook and eat.

High Risk Americans

Everyone is at risk for developing foodborne illness from some types of food like under-cooked eggs. However, some groups are at a higher risk, such as:

  • older adults
  • pregnant women
  • very young children
  • people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk, and need to be extra careful with the food they eat. Immune systems may be suppressed by medical treatments or by chronic illnesses such as:
    • AIDS
    • Cancer
    • Diabetes
    • Liver or kidney disease
    • Those suffering from alcoholism or decreased stomach acid due to surgery or regular use of antacids are also at increased risk. Below is a list of foods that high-risk individuals should not eat.
    • Those with decreased stomach acid due to surgery or regular use of antacids

If you are in a "high-risk" category...

Do Not Eat: Reheat:

Raw or undercooked eggs:

  • Soft-cooked (runny) or poached eggs
  • Unpasteurized egg nog
  • Monte Cristo sandwich
  • French toast
  • Caesar salad dressing
  • Hollandaise sauce
  • Some puddings and custards
  • Chocolate mousse
  • Tiramisu
  • Cookie dough, cake batter

Ready-to-eat foods:

  • Hot dogs
  • Luncheon meats (cold cuts)
  • Fermented and dry sausage
  • Other deli-style meat and poultry products

Raw Dairy Products:

  • Raw or unpasteurized milk or cheeses
  • Some fresh soft cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, blue-veined varieties, Mexican-style queso fresco
  

Raw or Rare Meat or Undercooked Poultry:

  • Raw or rare hamburger
  • Carpaccio (thin shavings of raw beef fillet)
  • Beef or steak tartare
  

Raw or Undercooked Shellfish:

  • Raw molluscan shellfish: raw clams, oysters, mussels, scallops
  

Raw Fish:

  • Sushi, sashimi
  • Ceviche
  • Tuna carpaccio
  

Raw sprouts:

  • Alfalfa, clover, radish sprouts
  

Unpasteurized juices:

  • Fruit and vegetable
  

Other:

  • Refrigerated pate or meat spreads
  • Refrigerated smoked seafood
  • Deli salads
  

 

If you think you have contracted a foodborne illness, contact your health care provider.

 
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