Food Safety
Food and Health
Which people are most at risk for foodborne illness by eating raw oysters?
Certain health conditions put you at risk for serious illness or death from Vibrio vulnificus infection. Some of these conditions have no signs or symptoms so you may not know you are at risk. Check with your doctor if you are unsure of your risk.
These conditions include:
- liver disease, either from excessive alcohol intake, viral hepatitis or other causes
- hemochromatosis, an iron disorder
- diabetes
- stomach problems, including previous stomach surgery and low stomach acid (for example, from antacid use)
- cancer
- immune disorders, including HIV infection
- long-term steroid use (as for asthma and arthritis).
If you are an older adult, you also may be at increased risk because older people more often have these risk conditions than younger people.
If you are or think you may be in any of these risk categories, you should not eat raw oysters. However, because fully cooking oysters completely kills the bacteria, you can continue to enjoy oysters in many cooked preparations.
If you drink alcoholic beverages regularly, you may be at risk for liver disease, and, as a result, at risk for serious illness or death from raw oysters. Even drinking two to three drinks each day can cause liver disease, which may have no symptoms. Liver disease will put you at increased risk for Vibrio vulnificus infection from raw oysters. The risk of death is almost 200 times greater in those with liver disease than those without liver disease.
What should I do if I think I have food poisoning?
- If you're only mildly ill, treat the symptoms pretty much like "flu." Keep up your liquid intake with water, tea, apple juice, bouillon, and ginger ale to replace fluids lost through diarrhea or vomiting.
- If symptoms are severe, or the victim is quite young, elderly, or has a chronic illness, see your doctor immediately or seek hospital care.
As an expectant mother, are there any special food safety concerns?
- Never eat raw meat, such as steak tartare (a raw hamburger dish), poultry or seafood (especially raw oysters and clams).
- Don't eat raw or undercooked eggs or any food containing them such as Caesar salads, mousse, some custards, homemade ice cream and homemade mayonnaise.
- Don't drink raw or unpasteurized milk or foods made from raw milk.
- Don't eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue and Mexican style soft white types as Queso Blanco and Queso Fresco.
- Avoid food from deli counters and thoroughly reheat lunch meats and hot dogs.
- Make sure food is well-cooked with no pink in hamburgers, meat, poultry or seafood. Fish should flake easily.
- Before eating stuffing cooked inside whole poultry, be sure it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How can I prevent the spread of germs in my day care?
Diapering tables need to be disinfected which refers to cleaning surfaces with the use of chemicals and virtually eliminating all germs. Toys, kitchen counter tops, food preparation equipment, and high chair trays need to be sanitized which refers to a less rigorous cleaning, designed to remove filth or soil and small amounts of certain bacteria. Soap, detergent, or abrasive cleaners may be used to sanitize.
What precautions should I take with the diaper changing area?
- Use the diapering area only for diapering. Never change diapers where you prepare or serve food.
- Changing tables should be cleaned and disinfected after each use. A variety of commercial disinfecting solutions are available. Directions on product labels should be followed closely.
- Always wash your hands and the child's hands - even if hands look clean.
- If you are mixing your own disinfecting solution, the National Health and Safety Performance Standards for Child Care recommend 1/4 cup bleach in 1 gallon water. Mix fresh daily. And never mix bleach with anything other than water. A poisonous gas can result.