Beware Eating Food
December 27, 2018
Well, here we go again; eating food can be dangerous for us! First the romaine lettuce scare and now the latest threat is from one of my favorite foods, avocado. It seems that it is a harbinger for listeria as well.
I have always tried to be careful about the foods I buy and how I store, wash and prepare them at home. In the case of lettuce, for the most part I am spoiled because I grow it at home but in the winter months I seek out the farmers markets and if I must buy it in a supermarket, I try to get it before it is sprayed to death by misting hoses, leaving it soggy, soft and ripe for bacteria. For avocadoes, I wash them in sudsy hot water before I peel them; same thing for pineapple and cantaloupe; be sure to look that no cracks appear on the rind. I wash all berries in hot water and I know that this does not eliminate all the bacteria that could still be lurking there but it does help. For meats, poultry and fish and shellfish, keep separate plastic mats for preparing them and wash your hands and cooking surfaces well. Stock up on plastic gloves and use them when handling raw meats or poultry. Pay attention to the expiration dates on what you are buying. Be sure to refrigerate perishable foods as soon as you bring them home. Those leftovers from two weeks ago in the back of your refrigerator, should be tossed. Just taking a few extra steps can help avoid food contamination.
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