Is There a Chance of Food Poisoning From Raw Vegetables Salad? How to Avoid Food Poisoning

Many people believe that salads are essential for maintaining good health. Also, refreshing raw vegetable salads are delicious during hot weather. However, salads made with raw vegetables can also cause food poisoning. In particular, households with small children or elderly people who have weak immune systems must take adequate measures to prevent food poisoning. In this article, we will explain the key points to prevent food poisoning from salads.

Tips to Avoid Food Poisoning From Salads

It is rare for vegetables to carry food poisoning bacteria, and even if they do, most of the bacteria will be killed by heating at 75°C for at least one minute. However, salad vegetables are often used without heating, so they must be handled appropriately.

To safely enjoy fresh, nutritious raw vegetables, it’s important to keep in mind the following points.

Tips For Buying and Storing Food

The key is to choose fresh vegetables and store them properly. Storage methods vary depending on the vegetable, but vegetables best stored in the refrigerator, such as leafy vegetables and tomatoes, should be put into the refrigerator immediately. Onions and potatoes should be kept out of direct sunlight in a cool, dark environment.

Another way to prevent food poisoning is to prevent the juices from meat or seafood from coming into contact with vegetables. If you buy meat or fish together with vegetables, put them in a plastic bag before carrying them home.

Tips For Making a Salad

Before making a salad, you should wash your hands carefully. Various bacteria are on your hands. Many of the bacteria on your hands are not harmful to humans, but there is a risk that they may contain bacteria that can lead to food poisoning. Ensure that you thoroughly wash your hands.

After washing your hands, rinse the vegetables thoroughly under running water, either tap water or water suitable for drinking.

Use clean kitchen utensils such as knives and cutting boards. Even if the knives and cutting boards have been washed and stored, it is safer to use them after pouring boiling water over them.

Cut vegetables are a breeding ground for bacteria, so it’s important to eat the salad as soon as possible. If you’re not going to eat it right away, store it in a clean container in the refrigerator.

Tips For Carrying Your Lunch

Salads made with raw vegetables are unsuitable for bento lunches because they lose water and spoil easily, especially in the summer or when carrying them around for long periods.

If you want to pack a salad for lunch, use an ice pack.

However, depending on how long you carry them around, how they are stored, and how fresh the vegetables are, they may need to be better before you can eat them. If they smell or taste strange when you eat them, dispose of them right away.

Be Careful When Making Homemade Mayonnaise

Some people make their mayonnaise for salads at home, but this homemade mayonnaise can sometimes cause food poisoning.

While eggs used in commercial mayonnaise are generally heat-treated, homemade mayonnaise uses raw eggs, so care must be taken to avoid food poisoning from Salmonella.

When making mayonnaise, be sure to handle eggs hygienically, and try to consume the mayonnaise on the same day if possible.

Summary

Food poisoning from salads can be prevented with a little care and ingenuity, such as the selection and storage of ingredients. Salads made with fresh vegetables are full of nutrients essential for health and beauty. Avoid the risk of food poisoning and enjoy safe and delicious salads.

【References】

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | For safe and delicious eating of raw vegetables

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Public Health and Medical Care | I heard that food poisoning bacteria can be found in raw vegetables. Is this true? [Food Safety FAQ]

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Public Health and Medical Care | How food poisoning occurred [Businesses] ⑥ Salmonella food poisoning caused by homemade mayonnaise

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