Is it safe to eat lightly cooked egg dishes, or use recipes that call for raw eggs?
Answer
Today some unbroken fresh shell eggs may contain certain bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. The bacteria are Salmonella enteritidis. While the number of eggs affected is quite small, there have been some scattered outbreaks in the last few years. Currently the government, the egg industry and the scientific community are working together to solve the problem.
Researchers say that if present, the Salmonella bacteria are usually in the yolk or "yellow." But they can't rule out the bacteria being in egg whites. So everyone is advised against eating raw or undercooked egg yolks, whites or products containing them.
People with health problems, the very young, the elderly and pregnant women (the risk is to the unborn child) are particularly vulnerable to Salmonella enteritidis infections. A chronic illness weakens the immune system making the person vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.
(Source:
Egg and Egg Product Safety. See also Focus On Shell Eggs.)
Question
What is a safe internal temperature for cooking meat and poultry?
Answer
Most pathogens are destroyed between 140 and 160 °F. However, for best quality, meat and poultry require various temperatures for "doneness." A chart, listing safe internal temperatures for many foods, is part of the brochure Use A Food Thermometer, featuring Thermy™. For more information, visit the Thermy™ Web pages.
The temperatures on the chart are recommended for consumer cooking. They are not intended for processing, institutional, or foodservice preparation. Food service professionals should consult their state or local food code.
Question
What is the safest way to thaw a frozen meat?
Answer
The USDA recommends three ways to defrost turkeys: in the refrigerator, in cold water and in the microwave. Never defrost turkey on the counter or in other locations.
It's best to plan ahead for slow, safe thawing in the refrigerator. Allow about 1 day for every 5 pounds of turkey to thaw in the refrigerator.
Turkey may be defrosted in cold water in its airtight packaging or in a leak-proof bag. Submerge the bird or cut-up parts in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes.
Turkey defrosted in the microwave should be cooked immediately after thawing because some areas of the food may become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended because any bacteria present wouldn't have been destroyed.
If you purchase previously frozen meat, poultry or fish at a retail store, you can refreeze if it has been handled properly.
(Source: Food Safety of Turkey... from Farm to Table. For information on thawing other items, see The Big Thaw - Safe Defrosting Methods for Consumers.
Question
Should I use a wooden cutting board or a plastic one?
Answer
You can choose either wood or a nonporous surface cutting board. Research shows that nonporous surfaces, such as plastic, marble, tempered glass, and pyroceramic are easier to clean than wood. Wood surfaces are considered porous. Once cutting boards become excessively worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves, you should replace them. Even plastic boards wear out over time.
Question
How do I prevent cross-contamination (the transfer of harmful bacteria to food from other foods) when using a cutting board?
Answer
Regardless of the type of cutting board you prefer, wood or a nonporous surface, consider using one for fresh produce and a separate one for raw meat, poultry, and seafood. This will prevent bacteria on a cutting board that is used for raw meat, poultry, or seafood from cross-contaminating a food that requires no further cooking.
Always use a clean cutting board. Wash cutting boards with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.
After washing, you may choose to sanitize the cutting boards with a solution of 1 teaspoon liquid chlorine bleach per quart of water. Flood surface with the bleach solution and allow it to stand for several minutes. Rinse with clear water and air or pat dry with clean paper towels.
Another good and easy way to wash the cutting board is to run it through the dishwasher after use. Non-porous acrylic, plastic, glass, and solid wood boards can be washed in a dishwasher (laminated boards may crack and split).
If possible, use one cutting board for fresh produce and a separate one for raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
Once cutting boards become excessively worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves, you should replace them. Even plastic boards wear out over time.
Question
How do bacteria spoil food?
Answer
There are different spoilage bacteria and each reproduces at specific temperatures. Some can grow at the low temperatures in the refrigerator or freezer. Others grow well at room temperature and in the "Danger Zone." Bacteria will grow anywhere they have access to nutrients and water. Under the correct conditions, spoilage bacteria reproduce rapidly and the populations can grow very large. In some cases, they can double their numbers in as little as 30 minutes. The large number of microorganisms and their waste products cause the objectionable changes in odor, taste, and texture.
Question
Do spoilage bacteria make people sick?
Answer
Most people would not choose to eat spoiled food. However, if they did, they probably would not get sick.
Pathogenic bacteria cause illness. They grow rapidly in the "Danger Zone" – the temperatures between 40 and 140 °F – and do not generally affect the taste, smell, or appearance of food. Food that is left too long at unsafe temperatures could be dangerous to eat, but smell and look just fine. E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, and Salmonella are examples of pathogenic bacteria.
Question
What are spoilage bacteria?
Answer
Spoilage bacteria are microorganisms too small to be seen without a microscope that cause food to deteriorate and develop unpleasant odors, tastes, and textures. These one-celled microorganisms can cause fruits and vegetables to get mushy or slimy, or meat to develop a bad odor.
Question
What about irradiation of food ?
Answer
Irradiation is a comparatively new method, one method among many, of safe food preservation. It is, however, the only method (apart from ultra-high pressure) of pasteurising without use of heat, and can therefore be valuable in a limited number of cases; for example, soft fruits and prawns, where quality is retained better than in heat pasteurisation. It is a controversial technique but, despite media scare stories, tests show that it is a safe and reliable process.
Whether, and to what extent, it will be used for any particular food in a country will depend on govermental approval, economics and public acceptance.
As irradiated foods come on the market, so long as there is a continuing public demand for unirradiated versions they will obviously continue to be marketed alongside the irradiated versions. But where the quality and safety of the irradiated products prove superior, and the economics are viable, concerns will in time disappear. This is exactly what happened a few generations ago when similar concerns were expressed about permitting pasteurisation of milk; yet today people happily and safely drink pasteurised milk. No doubt the same will occur with acceptance of irradiated foods in the future.
Question
What is food poisoning?
Answer
Food poisoning is illness caused by any harmful amount of a natural or contaminating substance in a food, but especially illness caused by some highly infective kinds of bacteria. If not prevented -- as it can be by care and good hygiene -- some kinds of bacteria can grow to large numbers in food and produce toxins (poisons) some of which are difficult to destroy by cooking. Other kinds can cause illness by growing to large numbers in the digestive system. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting, and may last from a few hours to a few days. In extreme cases food poisoning can prove fatal, especially to babies, the elderly and others with weakened immune systems.
