Ever had food poisoning? It’s not pleasant. Not only will it leave you holed up at home, literally feeling sick to your stomach, but it’ll make you lose faith in food. Especially if the culprit was something you ate at a restaurant. It’s like you unknowingly paid to feel absolutely terrible.
2018 was a rough year for food. So many trustworthy favorites were recalled, from produce to snack crackers. Beef and turkey were notably questionable, but the real problem was with romaine lettuce. A champion of all salads, it’s really rough to hear that something once marked “good for you” could cause widespread panic and leave you with E. coli.
Illness tied to food is so common that even the Queen has a list of foods that she prefers the royals not eat while out traveling. Why? Because they’re slightly more at-risk than other foods, in her mind. It sounds a little controlling, but she’s had the title for quite some time — she probably knows from experience.
Even though it’s almost impossible to tell what the next recall may be (seriously, who thought Goldfish crackers could be affected?), here are some foods that are more likely to get you sick than others.
1. Potato Salad
Remember that moment in The Office when Michael Scott brings a potato salad to a catered party and then worries about whether or not it’s still safe to eat? It was sitting in the car for quite a bit, after all.
Turns out he had reason to panic.
If the potatoes were cooked well ahead of time and wrapped up in foil to keep them fresh, they might have been prime candidates for botulism to form. StateFoodSafety says it’s very important to keep an eye on both the time and the temperature when it comes to baking potatoes. They’re definitely not a food you should cook and leave out ahead of time.
Also, if you happen to use homemade mayo, there’s another cause for concern. Store-bought is actually safer than you might think.
2. Deli Meat
If you’ve ever seen a pregnant woman heat up deli meat in the microwave before eating it, she’s not going crazy.
She’s just being safe. Deli meat has the risk of carrying listeria, which can be fatal for a growing baby. But since it’s hard to avoid ham, popping it in the microwave is a good way to ensure safety. It’s rare, which is why everyone’s not heating up their cold cuts, but still important to look out for.
3. Raw Nuts
Nuts are almost the perfect snack. Almost.
According to NPR, most nuts are required to be heat-pasteurized before making their way to consumers. This helps prevent bacteria. Even though it reportedly changes the flavor in almonds, it’s better to eat them this way than face the consequences. You should always check to see if the nuts you’re eating have been treated or cooked beforehand.
4. Lettuce
It should come as no surprise, but lettuce makes the list.
Sure, it’s good for you — and necessary in all proper salads — but it can also be problematic.The New Republic writes that the romaine scare from last year may have been tied to the fact that the E. coli strain was also linked to Arizona’s water source used to irrigate the crops. But, there’s more to it. Back in 2013, Modern Farmer actually stated that lettuce is often harvested with plenty of microorganisms nearby. The fact that it’s so close to the dirt doesn’t fare well.
5. Leftover Rice
When you make a big pot of rice, it might be common to forget to package it up and store it in the fridge.
But, it’s a must when it comes to food safety.While out at room temperature, spores can grow on your rice pretty quickly. Bacillus cereus also grows on the rice, which might not cook out if you’re reheating it. So make sure to put those leftovers away before it’s too late.
6. Leftover Stew
On the topic of leftovers, you’ll also want to be cautious of leftover stew.
There’s a medley of different things in there, and reheating it in the microwave might not create an even distribution of heat. For example, if you put your stew in the microwave and some of your meat is cooler than the rest, it’s the perfect place for bacteria to grow. Stirring the food while reheating it may be the best way to avoid this problem as you make sure you’re getting an enjoyable, safe lunch.
7. Sprouts
They might make you feel healthier.
That is, until you get a bad batch, and then you’re asking for tummy trouble. Sprouts, especially when eaten raw, are problematic because they’re grown in conditions that welcome bacteria. The only way to know you’re safe is to make sure you thoroughly cook your sprouts.
8. Oysters
You guessed it!
You’ll know between two and 48 hours if the oysters you ate will make you sick, according to LiveStrong. Raw oysters are far riskier, as raw-anything has the potential to cause harm. It’s rare, but oysters can also bring about Vibrio vulnificus food poisoning, which can cause severe illness in people with weak immune systems.
9. Fruit Salad
This is another food that you probably assumed was safe.
Fruits are healthy and delicious, so why are they on the list? Pre-cut fruit, especially melons, carry a risk of salmonella. An outbreak actually happened in April of 2019, in which 177 people were affected. By cutting your own fruit, you’re lessening the risk and also spending a little less money.
10. Tomatoes
They’re delicious on a grilled cheese sandwich, but can lead to more problems than you think.
Health says that tomatoes commonly cause foodborne illness. But the good news is that you can take some precautions at home. Like with all of your produce, you’ll want to wash your tomatoes before you use them. Just think about how many people probably touched them before they made their way into your kitchen. It’s a no-brainer.
11. Cookie Dough
Your mom always warned you not to eat raw cookie dough, and unfortunately, she had a point.
“Raw cookie dough contains both raw agriculture and animal products, both of which can carry bacteria which may be harmful to us,” dietician Kristi King told CBS News in 2018. “If you eat raw cookie dough, it’s not to say you will absolutely get sick, but you raise your risk significantly in taking that gamble.”
12. Eggs
They’re a great breakfast, but if they’re not cooked properly, a lot can go wrong.
Eggs can be a big source for salmonella. They can also go bad, which is why you’ll always want to check the expiration date on the package. The good news is that eggs typically have a pretty decent fridge-life, unlike, say, milk. Milk, you always have to be wary of before you drink straight out of the carton.
13. Milk
Speaking of milk, those with undiagnosed lactose intolerance may find milk hard to digest.
Here’s the scary part about it: Lactose intolerance can literally form at any age. That means you can wake up one day and suddenly have issues digesting it. And of course, even if you didn’t develop an intolerance, milk can still make you sick if it’s not fresh.
14. Subway sandwiches
Subway is delicious, don’t get me wrong.
But supposedly anything with a “conveyer belt” method of assembly is a little dangerous. What sets Subway apart is the fact that most of their ingredients don’t require heat. Unlike, say, McDonald’s. It’s not just about having plenty of employees touch your lunch. TheTravel states that sandwiches with chicken in them have the shortest shelf-life at Subway. So, if you’re craving chicken, you may want to go elsewhere.
15. Berries
It may be tempting to snack on a few berries at the grocery store (especially if you’re paying for them anyway) but that’s a habit you’ll want to break if you want to avoid getting sick.
Berries need to be properly washed before you start eating them. Otherwise, you may get sick due to fecal contamination. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and similar types might cause the issue. All it takes is one worker who didn’t properly wash their hands.
