There are many different things that women who are
trying to concieve, or who are pregnant should watch out for.
Every year, an estimated 7 million Americans suffer
from cases of food borne illness. Some cases are violent and even
result in death. Of course this is commonly known as "food
poisoning." The culprit is food that has dangerously high levels
of bacteria due to improper cooking or handling.
Food safety is usually taken for granted by the buying public but
everyone's attention was recently directed to food poisoning involving
some meat that was undercooked. It was determined that the problem
never would have happened if the meat had been cooked properly.
E.Coli 0157.H7 is a potent virus, but it can be completely destroyed
when the meat is fully cooked.
It is important for consumers to take an all-around safety approach
to purchasing, storing and preparing both traditional and new meat
and poultry products. Ultimately, consumers and food handlers bear
the responsibility for keeping food safe once it leaves the store.
Did you know?
All pregnant women should avoid saccharin. There are varied
opinions concerning aspartame (the ingredient in artificial
sweeteners such as Equal and Nutrasweet and diet colas), but
small amounts are okay. It should not be consumed, however,
by individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU). Also keep off foods
high in nitrites and nitrates, such as smoked and salty foods
(hotdogs, luncheon meat, smoked fish and meats).
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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 85 percent
of food borne illness cases could be avoided each year if consumers
would handle food properly. The most common food borne illnesses
are caused by a combination of bacteria, naturally present in the
environment, and food handling mistakes. Ironically, these are also
the easiest types of food borne illnesses to prevent. Proper cooking
or processing of raw meat and poultry kills bacteria that can cause
food borne illness.
When you're out, grocery shop last, take food straight home to the
refrigerator. And never leave food in a hot car! Don't buy anything
you won't use before the use-by date. Don't buy food in poor condition.
Make sure refrigerated food is cold to the touch. Frozen food should
be rock-solid. Canned goods should be free of dents, cracks or bulging
lids which can indicate a serious food poisoning threat.
The performance and maintenance of your refrigerator is of the utmost
importance. Check the temperature of your refrigerator with an appliance
thermometer. To keep bacteria in check, the refrigerator should
run at 40 degrees F; the freezer unit at 0 degrees F. Generally,
keep your refrigerator as cold as possible without freezing your
milk or lettuce.
When you prepare food, keep everything clean and thaw out any frozen
food you plan to prepare in your refrigerator. Take it out of the
freezer in advance and place it in the refrigerated section of your
refrigerator. Always wash your hands in hot soapy water before
preparing and handling any food as well as after you use the bathroom,
change diapers, handle pets, etc. Remember, too, that bacteria can
live in your kitchen towels, sponges and dish cloths. Wash them
often and replace the dish cloths and sponges you use regularly
every few weeks.
Be absolutely sure that you keep all raw meats, poultry and fish
and their juices away from other food. For instance, wash your hands,
your cutting board and knife in hot soapy water after cutting up
the chicken and before dicing salad ingredients. It is best to use
plastic cutting boards rather than wooden ones where bacteria can
hide in grooves. Don't take your food out of the freezer and leave
it on the kitchen counter to thaw. This is extremely dangerous since
the bacteria can grow in the outer layers of the food before the
inside thaws. It is wise to do your marinating in the refrigerator
too.
Want to learn more?
"So You Have Actively Trying To Get Pregnant" will teach you exactly what food, dietand exercise is needed for a healthy and quick pregnancy
