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CFSAN/Office of Food Safety, Defense, and Outreach
August 24, 2005
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Highlights
It's Spring! | Fall Events | Summer Fun | Entertaining All Year | Holiday Goodies | FACT or FICTION? ![]() ![]() Preventing foodborne illness is easy as...
Myth 1: Foodborne illness doesn't happen very often, so it isn't a serious issue. Fact: Foodborne illness is indeed a serious issue for everyone. Each year in the U.S., foodborne illness accounts for:
If you eat food that's contaminated, you could become sick. And, the risks are particularly serious for those in at-risk groups, such as pregnant women. For example, certain foodborne bacteria, such as Listeria, can be particularly harmful to moms-to-be and their unborn babies. For more information, see Listeria. Myth 2: The only time food isn't safe to eat is when it looks or smells spoiled. Fact: Many people assume that because food spoilage is visible, this is the only time that food isn't safe to eat. However, this is not always the case. Food that looks and smells fresh may contain harmful foodborne bacteria that you can't see. And, in fact, food-spoilage bacteria are not the same as bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Food-spoilage bacteria deteriorate (decay) food. Basic cleaning practices and proper refrigeration will reduce or slow down spoilage. Foodborne bacteria, on the other hand, contaminate food - making it unsafe to eat. For more information on how to prevent foodborne illness, see Lifelong Food Safety. Myth 3: Foodborne illness is caused by the last food you ate. Fact: It's often difficult to determine which food actually caused the illness. Eating a contaminated food will usually cause illness in one-to-three days, but sickness can also occur in as little as 20 minutes or as long as six weeks later. Within this amount of time, you would have eaten a wide range of foods, and any of these foods could have contributed to the illness. Myth 4: Foodborne illness can only affect the mother - not her unborn child. Fact: Not true. Harmful foodborne microorganisms that cause foodborne illness can seriously harm the mother and can also cross the placenta and infect her developing fetus. As a result, the infected fetus or newborn can experience a wide range of health problems - or even death. So, pregnant women should know the risks and how to prevent them. See While You're Pregnant. Myth 5: Seafood isn't safe to eat while I'm pregnant. Fact: Seafood is a good source of high quality protein and other nutrients for you and your baby. However, it is true that you should avoid eating certain types of seafood while you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant, and you should carefully select and prepare seafood. For example:
It's okay to eat other cooked fish/seafood as long as you select a variety of other kinds while you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant. You can eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury. Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week. For more information, see Methylmercury. Myth 6: Cheese is safe to eat, whether it's hard or soft. Fact: It all depends on the type. Cheese made from unpasteurized milk can become contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can be harmful to a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. Since some soft cheeses may be made with unpasteurized milk - especially traditional, homemade soft cheeses - pregnant women should not eat soft cheeses, such as Feta, Brie, Camembert, "blue-veined cheeses," or "queso blanco," "queso fresco," or Panela - unless they're made with pasteurized milk. Check the label to make sure it says, "made with pasteurized milk." For more information, see Listeria. Myth 7: Hot dogs are pre-cooked, so it's okay to eat them raw. Fact: Actually, it's important to always reheat hot dogs until they're steaming hot. Some ready-to-eat foods, such as hot dogs, can become contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes after they have been processed and packaged at the plant. If it's not possible to reheat hot dogs, don't eat them. For more information, see Listeria.
Handle foods safely to keep yourself and your family safe!
For information about food safety, call the FDA's Food Information Line at: 1-888-SAFE-FOOD. |