Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Chapter 3 Nutrition 97
People can become ill if a pesticide is accidentally added to a food, or if
naturally poisonous substances are used to prepare a meal. For example,
every year people become ill after eating poisonous mushrooms that they
mistake for edible mushrooms. Fish may have toxins in their fl esh as a re-
sult of living in polluted waters.
Preventing Foodborne Illness
Fortunately, there are several effective strategies for preventing food-
borne illness. These strategies include the following:
• wash your hands with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before
cooking and eating, and after handling uncooked meat (Figure 3.20)
• cook foods to the appropriate temperature
• keep hot foods hot—above 140 degrees Fahrenheit—since mi-
crobes die at this temperature
• keep cold foods cold—below 40 degrees Fahrenheit—since mi-
crobes divide and produce toxins very slowly at this temperature
• refrigerate and freeze perishable food and leftovers promptly
• wash counters, tables, dishes, and eating utensils with hot, soapy water
• avoid nonpasteurized juice, apple cider, and milk
• wash fruits and vegetables before preparing them
• throw away cans that are leaking or bulging at the top (these are
clear signs of botulism)
These strategies can help reduce your risk of getting foodborne illnesses.
Food Sensitivities
Some people experience negative reactions after eating particular types
of foods. Food sensitivities are often the cause of these negative reactions.
Food sensitivities are categorized as either food intolerances or food aller-
gies. Depending on the type of sensitivity, these reactions can range from
mild discomfort to life threatening.
Food Intolerance. Food intolerances occur when a person’s body can’t
properly digest a particular type of food. These intolerances often occur
gradually, after eating large quantities of a particular type of food or eating
a particular food very frequently. For instance, people who are lactose in-
tolerant have diffi culty digesting the lactose found in milk and many dairy
products because their bodies do not produce the substance required to
help digest the lactose. These people may become ill after eating ice cream.
Symptoms caused by food intolerances can include gas, cramps, bloat-
ing, heartburn, headaches, and irritability or nervousness. Although these
symptoms can be unpleasant, they are not usually life threatening.
People with food intolerances may be able to avoid unpleasant symp-
toms simply by consuming smaller amounts of the food that makes them
ill. In some cases, drugs or dietary supplements may be used to help a per-
son tolerate particular types of food. For example, people who are lactose
Washing your hands can help
you avoid foodborne illnesses.
Do you make a point
of washing your hands
thoroughly before and after
you handle foods?
Figure 3.20
food intolerance
a condition in which a
person cannot properly
digest a certain type of
food