Reduce risks of illness from bacteria in food, seniors are advised not to eat certain foods

We provide this free health resource to visitors of the Community Room of SeniorSSuperStoreS in an effort to keep baby boomers, seniors and the elderly informed of matters that can affect their lifestyle.

We thank our friends at Fitness and Freebies for providing us this article. There you will find fitness products for seniors provided by a fitness and nutrition expert! The site features nutrition, health, diet, and fitness tips, special dietary and tempting recipes, articles, and FREE E-Cookbooks - all Dedicated to your health!

Nutritionists agree that a healthful diet includes a variety of foods. But for seniors, certain foods may pose a significant health hazard because of the level of bacteria present in the product's raw or uncooked state.

To reduce risks of illness from bacteria in food, seniors (and others who face special risks of illness) are advised not to eat:

Raw fin fish and shellfish, including oysters, clams, mussels and scallops.

Raw or unpasteurized milk or cheese.

Soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined, and Mexican-style cheese. Hard cheeses, processed cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese or yogurt need not be avoided.

Raw or lightly cooked egg or egg products including salad dressings, cookie or cake batter, sauces and beverages such as egg nog. Foods made from commercially pasteurized eggs are safe to eat.

Raw meat or poultry.

Raw sprouts (alfalfa, clover and radish). Raw alfalfa sprouts have only recently emerged as a recognized source of food-borne illness.

Unpasteurized or untreated fruit or vegetable juice. (When fruits and vegetables are made into fresh squeezed juice, harmful bacteria that may be present can become part of the finished product. Most juice in the United States, 98-percent, is pasteurized or otherwise treated to kill harmful bacteria. To help consumers identify unpasteurized or untreated juices, the Food and Drug Administration is requiring a warning label on these products. The label says, "WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems." .

New information on food safety is constantly emerging. Recommendations and precautions are updated as scientists learn more about preventing food borne illness. You need to be aware of and follow the most current information on food safety. If you have questions and you would like to talk to an expert, please call the following toll free hotlines:

The Food and Drug Administration Hotline can answer questions about safe handling of seafood, fruits and vegetables, as well as rules that govern food safety in restaurants and grocery stores. You can reach them by calling 1-800-SAFEFOOD.

The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline can answer questions about safe handling of meat and poultry as well as many other consumer food issues. Call them at 1-800-535-4555

On the Web:
Food Safety
Partnership for Food Safety Education .

To your health!