Precautions for Eating in Restaurants
To protect yourself from food-borne illnesses, the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) recommends taking the following precautions while dining
out.
Be choosy when selecting restaurants.
- Note the general cleanliness of the facility and
staff. If you aren't confident that conditions are sanitary,
leave.
- Restaurants are inspected by the local health department for
cleanliness and proper kitchen procedures. Find out the inspection scores of
selected restaurants (they are sometimes posted in the restaurant).
- Find out whether food safety training is regularly provided for
staff.
Give specific directions and ask questions. Do
everything you can to ensure your food is prepared properly.
- Make sure meat is cooked at the proper
temperature. For example, when ordering a hamburger, ask for it to be cooked to
a temperature of 160°F (71°C),
and send it back if it is still pink in the middle.
- Order eggs
cooked so the yolk is firm. When you order an item that combines eggs, such as
omelets, request pasteurized eggs. Choose a different menu item if pasteurized
eggs are not available.
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease |
|
Last Revised
|
February 8, 2011 |
Last Revised:
February 8, 2011
