How do we avoid contaminated foods?

(WYTV)- This meat is recalled. That chicken is no good.

Watch out for that ice cream.

From time to time we warn you about food recalls and it’s usually some bacteria that’s contaminated it. How do we avoid this?

Undercooked meat and poultry can make you sick. They might be contaminated with bacteria such as salmonella or E. coli. That’s why cooking food to a proper temperature and avoiding cross-contamination is so important.

But what about dairy products such as cheese and ice cream? Products made with raw milk can sometimes carry harmful germs including listeria.

“Listeria is a type of bacteria that is usually transmitted through food and food products. It is especially a concern if you’re pregnant, if you’re elderly or if you have a weakened immune system for some reason.”

It’s not just soft serve that can cause listeria illness. Look at all the outbreaks we’ve had in the last few years. There’s really a wide variety of different foods, including some foods that we would think of as being healthy, that can spoil.

The Centers for Disease Control keeps track of all outbreaks. You can check out the latest on its website.

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