Don’t Let Sickening BACTERIA Bungle Your Holiday Plans!
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted November 12, 2022
They say cleanliness is next to godliness. Now, I don’t know about that.
But, I DO know that when it comes to your kitchen, cleanliness is absolutely VITAL.
The trouble is, even the cleanest of kitchens can harbor some sickening hidden secrets.
And new research just revealed one of the most surprising culprits.
Trust me, you don’t want to head into the holidays now knowing this.
In our home, we keep separate cutting boards for meat and veggies. We clean or throw away sponges regularly. And we scrub the garbage lid, refrigerator handle, and countertops often.
We do all this to keep our chances of getting a foodborne illness from microbes that might be hiding out in our kitchen.
(You see, my wife and I spent our younger years working in kitchens, and we learned to keep cross-contamination to a minimum.)
Cross-contamination occurs when a microbe jumps from one thing (say, a Thanksgiving turkey) to another (say, our sponge).
But I must admit, as careful as I am, I never considered that our SPICE JARS could be a significant source of cross-contamination!
And neither did a group of researchers who were surprised to find many potentially harmful bacteria lurking on them…
Unsurprisingly, the majority of foodborne illnesses come from raw meat. But it’s NOT the only source of food poisoning. Lots of vegetables become infected with bacteria such as E.coli too.
That’s why it’s critical to take extra care WHENEVER you prepare food.
Besides trying to PREVENT cross-contamination, always cook foods at temperatures high enough (and long enough) to kill any pathogens that slip through.
But regardless of how careful you are, mistakes can still be made. Like the one seen in the new study.
The researchers found participants were unthinkingly picking up spice jars after their hands had touched raw meat.
Lucky for us, the solution couldn’t be any easier. Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands EVERY time they touch meat and before you pick up your spice jars.
Keep the holidays healthy. Don’t let sickening bugs threaten YOUR Thanksgiving feast this year.
P.S. Speaking of spices, check out these holiday spices with hidden health benefits.
Source:
“Cross-Contamination to Surfaces in Consumer Kitchens with MS2 as a Tracer Organism in Ground Turkey Patties,” J Food Prot (2022) 85 (11): 1594–1603. https://doi.org/10.4315/JFP-22-060
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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