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Even the healthiest foods can make a person sick if they arent handled, cooked or stored properly, says Dr. Robert Berkow, editor in chief of Your Health Now, a new health magazine from the global pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., Inc. Here are some tips on how to avoid getting sick: • Always wash hands before handling food. Illnesses are easily transferred from person to person through food. Washing hands before touching fruits, vegetables and other foods helps to kill any bacteria that may be transferred from the persons hand to the food. • When handling raw meat, poultry or pork, always clean up thoroughly. Dont just wash your hands but also clean the surfaces of cutting boards, countertops and utensils you use. The bacteria known as salmonella spreads easily on surfaces that come in contact with raw meat. • Avoid eating undercooked food. Undercooked beef, chicken and seafood increase a persons chance of getting salmonella or E. coli, another type of bacteria. This can cause fever, cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. • Do not eat foods that contain raw eggs. Raw eggs may be contaminated with salmonella, which can be killed by cooking. When cooking, always throw away cracked or dirty eggs. • Avoid drinking juices that have not been pasteurized. The pasteurization process kills bacteria such as E. coli. • Avoid canned foods that are bulging or dented, or jars that are cracked. Lids should not be loose or swollen. Look at the sell by and use by dates. Avoid foods that will expire soon after purchasing and never buy outdated foods. • Properly store and refrigerate foods when theyre brought home. Cooked foods should not be left to stand at room temperatures for long periods before serving, and leftovers should be refrigerated within two hours. • When in doubt, throw it out. If you arent sure if that leftover is safe to eat, then toss it in the trash. |
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