By Ashley Peoples| UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

It is summertime, and we will attend cookouts at our family’s homes. Food will be served while we are there, and many of us will be excited to participate in the prepared meals. However, we must be aware that some foods being prepared may cause food poisoning. Food poisoning comes from contaminated foods that are not cooked all the way through. Several foods can cause food poisoning—for example, eating raw food such as beef, eggs, chicken, and seafood. For example, meat is a product that can cause food poisoning, better known as salmonella, e-coli, and yersinia. Salmonella comes from chicken not being cooked all the way through.

There are ways to prevent food poisoning, which can be done by washing your hands before and after preparing food. According to the CDC (2022), your hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds. When cooking meat, it should be cooked to a safe temperature. After the meat is cooked, clean and disinfect the surface. If the surface is unclean and someone touches it, they can develop food poison.

 So, when you are at the family cookout, ensure your hands are clean before and after preparing meals. Be aware of how thoroughly the meat is cooked before you serve it. It may help if you ask the person to cook your meat well done. For instance, some people like their beef cooked medium rare. However, if you are at a cookout, ask the person to cook your meat well done. Remember to wash your hands before and after eating so that germs do not enter your mouth. If we utilize the methods described in this blog, we can prevent food poisoning. Remember, prevention is key.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022b, December 7). Food poisoning symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/symptoms.html