Bacteria - Uninvited Dinner Guests
March 12th, 2008One of every three chickens in the supermarket cooler has live salmonella bacteria growing inside its plastic packaging. And it is easy for chickens to pass the disease through their ovaries and into their eggs. Cooking eggs “sunny side up” doesn’t destroy the bacteria. And don’t forget about the raw eggs in popular foods such as Caesar dressing, hollandaise sauce, eggnog, mousse, and homemade ice cream.
Salmonella and other microorganisms kill approximately nine thousand Americans each year and, in less serious cases, cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever often mistaken for the flu. In infants, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems, the infection can be fatal.
Unfortunately, there are eight other major foodborne pathogens, including the well-known E. coli and campylobacter, commonly found in animal products (and most chicken packages) posing a continual threat to those who consume them. In case you were wondering, the USDA’s “seal of approval” ensures only that the product is free of “visible” signs of disease.