You may have heard of the raw food diet, which claims to bring benefits like promoting weight loss and better digestive health. Well, the truth is, not all raw food are safe for consumption since they can cause food poisoning and other illnesses like stomach pain and nausea. That said, here are 10 Common Food You Shouldn’t Eat Raw.
1) Chicken
Eating raw or even undercooked chicken is strictly a no-no since doing so can result in serious health issues like salmonella, diarrhea and other bacterial infections. So, if you do not want to end up on a hospital bed, make sure that the chicken is evenly cooked to at least 165°F (73.889°C) to eliminate the bacteria for safe consumption.
2) Eggs
Eggs are undoubtedly a popular breakfast staple that everyone should have in their fridge. They are inexpensive and full of nutritious values such as protein, selenium and B vitamins. You can cook them in any way you want ranging from sunny-side-up to scrambled, poached and omelette styles. But one thing for sure: eating raw eggs is just a disaster waiting to happen. Sure, we might see Sylvester Stallone casually cracking a few raw eggs into a glass in 1976’s “Rocky” and drinking it in one big gulp. Breakfast of champions? Well, think again since raw eggs are likely to contain salmonella, which in turn, can cause food poisoning and severe stomach pain. Just for the sake of your own safety, stick to cooked eggs instead.
3) Potatoes
It may be rare for someone who actually thinks that it’s a good idea to consume rare potatoes. But it’s still worth mentioning here anyway. Eating them raw may cause bloating and other gastrointestinal problems since they contain indigestible starches. Which is why it’s important to cook them beforehand to help break down the starches. Then, there’s the worst-case scenario if you end up consuming raw potatoes that have green spots on it. Those spots in question contain solanine, a toxin that can cause food poisoning as well as other illnesses like headache, nausea and fatigue.
4) Kidney Beans
Kidney beans are packed with protein, fibre and minerals like potassium and iron. But as healthy as these highly-nutritious beans are in the first place, keep in mind that kidney beans can be hazardous as well. That is, of course, if you choose to consume them raw. Uncooked kidney beans contain phytohemagglutinin, a toxin that can cause serious illnesses like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. So, to avoid the otherwise healthy kidney beans from “ruining” your stomach, be sure to boil kidney beans for at least 10 minutes prior to eating them.
5) Meat
Just like chickens, eating raw meat such as pork and beef can cause food poisoning due to harmful bacteria including E. coli, campylobacter and salmonella. It’s best to cook them to an internal temperature for at least 145°F (62.7778°C) to help eliminate the risk of the aforementioned bacteria.
6) Milk
Most of us have heard of this since childhood. And that is the goodness of consuming fresh milk every day to build strong bones and teeth, thanks to calcium and vitamin D. But fresh milk and raw milk are two different things altogether, with the latter actually coming straight from a cow. However, without pasteurisation, raw milk may contain harmful bacteria like salmonella and E. coli. This, in turn, can cause illnesses like abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and headaches. So now, you understand why pasteurisation is crucial since it involves heating milk to eliminate bacteria, mould and yeast while increasing the product’s shelf life at the same time.
7) Oysters
The next time you consume some raw oysters in a restaurant, you are probably at risk of getting sick. Remember one of the episodes where Rowan Atkinson’s Mr. Bean ends up consuming a plateful of raw oysters? Well, those who have seen that particular episode before wouldn’t want to end up just like him. You see, raw oysters may contain a bacterium called vibrio vulnificus. Symptoms include serious illnesses like diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pains, skin rashes and even high fever. So, for oyster lovers out there, be sure to have them fully cooked beforehand.
8) Flour
Believe it or not, eating raw flour can be hazardous to your health. Apparently, uncooked or raw flour may contain bacteria like E.coli, which in turn, can cause food poisoning. Which is why any flour incorporated into a baking recipe is properly handled and fully baked before consumption.
9) Apples
Okay, before you get paranoid about eating raw apples, let us be clear that biting into them is safe for consumption. Instead, it’s the apple seeds that you should be concerned about. They may look small and harmless but apple seeds contain a chemical called amygdalin. Chewing them, in turn, will be converted into cyanide and may cause illnesses like headaches, vomiting, dizziness, stomach cramps and nausea. Cyanide can even result in death, depending on your body weight. Other than apples, cyanide can be found in other fruit seeds such as peaches, mangoes, apricots and pears.
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10) Sausages
Never ever eat raw sausages straight out of the package that you bought from the frozen meat section in the supermarket. They may contain harmful bacteria and it’s best to cook them using the boiling or frying methods. Doing so can prevent foodborne illnesses like stomach cramps, headaches and abdominal pain.
