These 6 Home Grown Foods Could Make You Sick Without Precautions

Home cooks must be vigilant about foodborne illnesses to keep their families safe. But foodborne illnesses aren't just tied to commercial farming. Even the vegetables and livestock grown in your backyard could make you sick. These foods are some of the most likely to make you sick if you don't take extra precautions.

Raw Meat

The Centers for Disease Control says raw and undercooked meat is the leading cause of diarrheal sickness in the United States. All raw poultry contains the campylobacter bacteria and may include salmonella or E. coli. Many bacterias found in raw meat and poultry can cause short-term food poisoning. Meat should be cooked thoroughly, and proper precautions are taken when handling raw meat to avoid cross-contamination.

Raw Vegetables

Raw vegetables and fruits that are grown in your backyard aren't safe from food poisoning-causing bacteria, either. The exterior of uncooked fruits and vegetables can be a breeding ground for many types of bacteria.

They are also at risk for cross-contamination in a kitchen. All raw fruits and vegetables should be washed and cleaned thoroughly before use. Eating too many raw vegetables can agitate leaky gut syndrome, which is caused by increased intestinal permeability. That means toxins and bacteria are more likely to seep into the body through the digestive tract.

Raw Milk & Cheese

Unpasteurized milk and cheese can be a vector for bacterial infection from E. coli, listeria, and salmonella. Soft cheeses like feta, brie, and camembert are more likely to create problems.

While yogurt is often recommended for its probiotic content, it can be a source of trouble. Making homemade yogurt means being careful not to culture harmful bacteria that may make you sick accidentally. Using pasteurized milk is one way to make sure no harmful bacteria are incubating in homemade yogurt.

Leftover Rice

Cooking a large pot of rice ahead of time may save time, but it could be a disaster waiting to happen. Leftover rice may harbor Bacillus cereus, a type of bacteria found in rice fields. This bacteria can survive inside rice even after cooking. Eating lots of these bacteria spores may cause diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea within 30 minutes after eating it. Instead, cook your rice fresh and dispose of any leftovers to avoid bacteria spore growth on rice.

Raw Sprouts

Sprouts can be a great way to add additional protein to a vegetarian diet, but they require special care. Many food safety experts warn that sprouts and seeds can be contaminated with bacteria. The conditions for sprouts to grow are also prime conditions for bacterial growth.

Sprouts are rarely cooked enough to kill bacteria, so they must be thoroughly rinsed. If you grow your own at home, do not use any fertilizer while growing. Many food safety experts warn against consuming raw sprouts when possible.

Infused Oils

Cooking with infused oil can add tons of flavor, but it can also cause botulism. Botulism grows inside sealed food containers like home-canned fruits or veggies. You don't have to give up infused oil as long as you take a few precautions when preparing it.

Make sure you refrigerate your oil infusion and mix in acidic ingredients like vinegar to stop bacterial growth. You can presoak botanical ingredients like garlic, basil, oregano, and rosemary in citric acid to kill bacteria before you infuse the oil.

Conclusion

Stopping foodborne illness means being aware of the conditions in which bacteria can grow. Always washing raw veggies thoroughly and cooking raw meat to the correct temperature severely reduces the chances of getting sick. For more guidelines, the CDC has a full list of tips that are useful in helping prevent foodborne illness in the home.