Eggs, Dough, and Salads: Everything You Need to Know About Food Poisoning

According to World Health Organization data, approximately two billion people worldwide (which constitutes about a third of the global population) suffer from food poisoning each year. In some cases, these are life-threatening poisonings, which highlights the importance of knowing how to prevent the phenomenon, and furthermore, how to handle the food we consume healthily.

In a conversation with INSIDER magazine, attorney Bill Marler, a food poisoning expert who has dealt with related lawsuits for years, listed the following products to avoid:

Raw Dough – Marler explains that from 2015 to 2016, 56 people across 24 states contracted E. coli infection from eating raw dough or alternatively raw flour: "Raw dough is on the other end of the spectrum - something most people consider harmless, but it can easily spread bacteria," he explained.

Packaged Salad Mixes – According to Marler, he personally avoids eating pre-prepared vegetables and fruits "like a plague." He claims it's a matter of convenience, but it's not worth the risk since it's a processed food that increases the chance of contamination.

Broken leaves found in salad mix bags significantly increase the risk of salmonella. Researchers found that the juices secreted by leaves damaged in pre-packaged salad mixes increase the risk of salmonella infection by 2,400 times. Additionally, researchers found that not only do the broken leaves increase the strength of the bacteria, but they also boost the chances of contracting an infection and causing contamination in anyone who eats them.

Raw Sprouts – These are prohibited during pregnancy, but it's recommended to avoid eating them in general. Fresh uncooked sprouts have a higher likelihood of harboring salmonella or E. coli bacteria. Additionally, compared to other vegetables, sprouts are not easy to wash and clean thoroughly. If you still insist on eating raw sprouts, make sure you wash them well.

Raw Eggs – Salmonella bacteria are present in raw eggs, leading to gastrointestinal infections in both animals and humans. The bacteria can cause nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain accompanied by cramps, and more.

To avoid salmonella contamination, it is important to adhere to correct cooking and consumption rules for eggs.

Unpasteurized Dairy Products and Juices – Some people claim that pasteurization degrades the nutritional value of food. It is vital to know that unpasteurized dairy products can contain the brucellosis bacteria. This bacterium can cause, among other things, Malta fever, which occurs due to bacteria that reside in animals and infect humans. The disease can erupt mildly but may sometimes include night sweats, prolonged fever, depression, general weakness, headaches, and limb pain.