These are the things food safety experts never eat when dining out
The late Anthony Bourdain already warned about the Sunday brunch buffet in his book. Another chef says it’s better not to order fish dishes on Mondays, while yet another chef says it’s best to avoid dishes that don’t fit the restaurant’s theme (no meat in a fish restaurant, for example). Want to be sure that everything you order is safe to eat? Then avoid these dishes, food safety experts say.
These are the things food safety experts never eat when dining out
Steak tartare
It’s a classic of French cuisine and best when prepared without too much fuss: steak tartare. But the raw meat, often served with a raw egg yolk, is a nightmare for food safety experts. One of the most common bacteria found in raw meat is E. coli, also known as the fecal bacterium. And it can make you quite ill. If you want to play it safe, it’s better to skip the steak tartare.
Raw shellfish
A platter full of gin and tonic oysters served on ice is delicious, but shellfish do pose a food safety risk. They can contain the Vibrio bacterium, which can also cause a foodborne infection. Important to know: this bacterium is only found in shellfish from seawater where the water temperature remains above 15 degrees Celsius all year round. As a result, the bacterium is not present in Dutch waters, but it can occur in imported shellfish.
Raw milk
Drinking or eating unpasteurized milk can involve various health risks. Raw or unpasteurized milk is milk that has not been heated and comes directly from a cow’s udder. As a result, potentially harmful bacteria such as listeria, salmonella and E. coli may be present in the milk, again causing a foodborne infection. This applies not only to cow’s milk, but also to milk from goats, sheep, buffalo, horses, donkeys and camels. That is why eating raw-milk cheeses is still discouraged for pregnant women, babies and older people.
Well, we understand it if, due to professional conditioning, you’re extra cautious when eating out as a food safety expert. But don’t let it get to you. If you’re in France and see steak tartare, oysters and a cheese board on the menu? Live a little is our editorial motto.
Happy holidays!
Also read:
- The yellow cloth is the filthiest kitchen item I know
- Gross: meal kits from delivery services are full of bacteria
- Ugh! These are the five places in the supermarket with the most bacteria
