Have a Healthy New Year Celebration:
CDC Says Don’t Eat Raw Oysters
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning against eating raw oysters, as a multi-state Salmonella outbreak has been reported linked to the consumption of raw oysters. The highest number of illnesses were reported in New York and Pennsylvania, with illness reported in New Jersey as well. A total of 64 cases have been reported in 22 states, resulting in 20 hospitalizations.
Source: CDC
The CDC noted that eating cooked oysters is safe, as cooking destroys the bacteria. CDC offered these tips for cooks:
- Do not let raw seafood, its drippings, or its juices contaminate other foods.
- You cannot tell if an oyster has germs by looking at it.
- Hot sauce and lemon juice do not kill germs.
Cooking methods include cooking oysters in the shells until they open (discard oysters that do not open) or outside the shells, to an internal temperature of 145 deg. F.
Symptoms of Salmonella
- Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
- Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
- Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.
- Some people—especially children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
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Preventing Food Poisoning
Source: CDC
Some foods are more likely than others to contain germs that can make you sick.
To prevent food poisoning, follow the four steps to food safety: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill. Keep hands and surfaces clean, keep risky foods separate from other foods, cook food properly, and refrigerate promptly. If a food is recalled, throw it away.
Some foods are more likely to contain harmful germs, including:
- Raw or undercooked poultry, meat, seafood, or eggs
- Raw or undercooked sprouts
- Unwashed fruits and vegetables
- Cut melon
- Unpasteurized milk, juice, cider, or soft cheese
- Raw dough or raw batter made with uncooked flour
