Be aware of the microorganisms that cause food poisoning.

Salmonella is the leading cause of food-poisoning-related hospitalizations as well as the number one cause of food-poisoning-related deaths in the US. Stay educated so you can avoid it!

E. coli is known to cause urinary tract infections, and most strains of this bacteria are antibiotic resistant.

Yersinia infection typically leads to acute gastroenteritis, but if left untreated, it can cause chronic inflammation of the eyes, kidneys, heart, and joints. It can also trigger Graves’ disease (an autoimmune thyroid condition).

C. Difficile is a superbug that causes a condition known as pseudomembranous colitis. The most characteristic symptom is painful, crampy diarrhea.

1. Beware of the risk of salmonella.
   Salmonella can be found in eggs and poultry. It can survive in even boiled eggs or a fully cooked omelette, and about 90% of retail chicken in the US is considered to be contaminated by fecal matter, thereby increasing the risk of carrying salmonella.

2. Beware of the risk of E. coli.
   E. coli can be found in chicken. Cooking chicken thoroughly doesn’t help, as handling raw chicken can lead to intestinal colonization even if you do not eat any of it!

3. Beware of the risk of Yersinia bacteria.
   Yersinia bacteria is found in pork—more than two-thirds of the pork in the US is contaminated with it.

4. Beware of the risk of C. Difficile.
   C. Difficile can be found in various meats, including chicken, turkey, beef, and pork. It can survive two hours of cooking at 160 degrees Fahrenheit!