For Quick Alerts
Subscribe Now  
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

Foods That Are Most Likely To Be Contaminated By Parasites

Foods that are most likely to be contaminated are red meat, dairy products, unpasteurized eggs, etc. Read to know about the top foods that can get contaminated easily.

By Sravia Sivaram

Do you know that there are some foods out there that can increase the risk of food-borne diseases? These foods can get easily contaminated by disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites; and the best you can do is to avoid these foods at the most.

Excess consumption of these foods can cause nausea, cramps and fatigue that follows food poisoning. You can find parasites lurking in plenty of these foods and drinks.

It's important to ensure that your food doesn't contain any insidious microbes. For this purpose, you also need to ensure that your refrigerator is working properly and you wash your hands well before eating anything.

foods that are contaminated

Foods can get contaminated due to a variety of reasons as well. Inadequate hand-washing, cross-contamination, storage and cooking temperatures as well as contamination of food by animal waste are some of the reasons.

Pathogens present in the hands can also be transferred to the food. In this article, we have presented to you a list of some of the top foods that can get contaminated, which you need to keep off from, or at least clean them thoroughly before their consumption.

1. Red Meat:

1. Red Meat:

Raw and uncooked meat is a breeding ground for bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. Hence, it is important to cook your meat thoroughly before its consumption.

It is also recommended not to eat non-veg food outside, as you cannot be sure of the hygiene and the preparation method.

2. Eggs:

2. Eggs:

You need to make sure that your eggs are free of Salmonella bacteria. You need to check if there are any cracks while purchasing the egg. Also, make sure not to consume eggs that are beyond the date of packaging.

3. Unpasteurized Dairy Products:

3. Unpasteurized Dairy Products:

These have a higher risk of being contaminated by Listeria, Salmonella and E. coli bacteria. These can be found in unpasteurized milk. Pasteurization helps in getting rid of these disease-causing bacteria.

4. Contaminated Poultry Products:

4. Contaminated Poultry Products:

You need to ensure that your chicken is bacteria free. It can be infected with Salmonella species. You need to ensure that it is cooked properly before its consumption. This is one of the foods that can get contaminated easily.

5. Leafy Greens:

5. Leafy Greens:

Chopped leafy greens are known to cause about 22% of food-related illnesses. This is also confirmed in the study 'Infrequent Internalization Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Into Field-Grown Leafy Greens'.

6. Seeded Veggies:

6. Seeded Veggies:

Seeded vegetables are known to be a breeding ground for Salmonella species, and these can be present in veggies like cucumbers, jalapenos, etc.

In order to avoid being infected by this bacteria, you'll have to wash your veggies thoroughly.

7. Seeds And Sprouts:

7. Seeds And Sprouts:

Seeds and sprouts usually require a hot and humid climate to grow and this makes it ideal for bacteria to grow in them as well. Contaminated radish sprouts can contain E. coli and hence can create stomach issues in those consuming them. This is also one of the foods contaminated by bacterial toxins.

8. Baby Food:

8. Baby Food:

Baby foods are known to contain lead, a metal that can cause threat to attention, behaviour, cognitive development as well as cardiovascular system and immune system of the young one.

To make sure that your little ones are not affected, you'll have to avoid fruit juices, root vegetables as well as certain seeded vegetables.

9. Fruits:

9. Fruits:

Fruits are known to contain Salmonella species as well as Listeria species and hence it is recommended to properly wash these before their consumption.

10. Canned Foods:

10. Canned Foods:

Canned foods that are not sterilized properly can cause botulism, which is a disease that can cause respiratory issues and difficulty in swallowing. This is also confirmed in the study 'Botulism In Commercially Canned Foods'.

11. Rice:

11. Rice:

Left-over rice can contain Bacillus cereus, a type of bacteria that can cause diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting. Cooked rice must be refrigerated and must not be stored in room temperature, as this can cause bacteria to grow and contaminate this easily.

12. Peanut Butter:

12. Peanut Butter:

Peanut butter is a processed food and hence can be home to Salmonella species of bacteria. It is better not to leave this food product without refrigeration. Hence, it is ideal to keep this refrigerated always and avoid its consumption in excess.

Read more about: foods red meat eggs rice