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Food Poisoning
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Treat Food Poisoning With Coconut Water
Recently, I came down with a really bad case of food poisoning while traveling. Although I made it through the worst of it before my flight home, I still felt completely exhausted, weak, and dehydrated the days following. I was taught that it was water or bust when it came to food poisoning, but my doctor was quick to tell me that coconut water contained almost everything I needed for a speedy recovery.
Have You Ever Had Food Poisoning?
I hate when I have stomach issues, and having food poisoning has got to be the worst. It stinks that something you ate, whether it was out to dinner, at a friend's house, or in your own kitchen, could make you have to run to the bathroom every five minutes (or never leave for hours). Sometimes knowing others have felt your pain can make you feel better, so tell me .
FDA Gives the OK on Eating Tomatoes
If you've been avoiding certain tomatoes since this horrific salmonella outbreak, go ahead and bite into any tomato you want. Since no strain of salmonella Saintpaul was found on any farms that were tested, the FDA believes that consumers can now enjoy all types of fresh tomatoes.
The mystery still stands though as to what caused this outbreak in the first place, which has now sickened 1,220 people in 42 states — the earliest case on April 10 and the latest so far on July 4.
Is Mayonnaise a Magnet for Salmonella?
There are bound to be barbecues a plenty this Fourth of July weekend. With this tainted tomato scare, I for one definitely have salmonella on my mind. I typically associate mayo with food poisoning, since people tend to leave this condiment, and the food it's added to, out for long periods of time.
How to Protect Yourself From Salmonella
Now that over 500 people across the country have become sick from tomatoes contaminated with salmonella, I'm sure you're all wondering how you can protect yourself from getting sick, so keep these tips in mind:
- When purchasing food, it should look and smell fresh. Anything that's bruised, damaged, discolored, or has a different consistency should be avoided.
- With this tomato problem, it's best to avoid any prepared foods that contain raw tomatoes such as salsa, salads, and guacamole since it's difficult to know for sure if the tomatoes are safe.
- Before handling any food, plates, cutting boards, or utensils, always wash your hands.
- Thoroughly wash all produce (even ones that you peel), under running water.
- Keep raw meats away from your fresh produce. Use separate cutting boards and utensils when preparing the two.
Tomatoes Expected in Restaurants and Stores Soon
Unfortunately this tomato salmonella outbreak is growing, and tainted tomatoes have been found in 28 states and 228 people have become ill because of them. Health officials are still trying to figure out if the bad produce came from Mexico or Florida. It's hard to figure out since sickened people's memories of when (and if) they ate tomatoes, where they ate them, and which kinds they ate are a little fuzzy.
Contaminated Tomatoes: Salmonella Strikes Again
I guess we can't go too long without hearing about another outbreak of salmonella. This time it's tomatoes, and these tainted veggies have been found in nine states. Forty food poisoning cases have been reported from New Mexico and Texas, all caused by the same strand of salmonella found in large, raw tomatoes, and 17 of those people have been hospitalized.
Label Able: Treated by Irradiation
When you're buying chicken at the store, and the package says "treated with radiation," those little words may make you think twice. I know it sounds like something really bad for you, to eat meat that's gone through radiation, but it's actually a process approved by the FDA. If foods have been irradiated, the FDA requires that they are labeled with a statement such as "treated with radiation” or “treated by irradiation.” They must also show this international symbol for irradiation called the radura.
Is It a Stomach Bug or Food Poisoning?
Since it's that time of year when illness spreads like jam on toast, I'm sure you or someone you know has suffered from a stomach bug. Or was it food poisoning? It's good to know which it is, so you know whether or not you are contagious or if other people shouldn't eat the mystery meat you ate in the fridge.
Prevent Food Poisoning
Holidays are coming, and getting a nasty bout of food poisoning is the last thing you want right now. Here are some ways to prevent it when it comes to buying, storing, and cooking food:
- When grocery shopping, choose meat and poultry that's in the back of the refrigerated case, so you know it's cold. Those packages tend to be fresher too.
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