EAT SMART!

(image from http://www.tudiabetes.org/notes/Discounts)

As promised in our "Who's at risk?" blog entry, we finally decided to make an entry giving you details on how to EAT SMART!  We will go over basic information you can take with you anywhere you go to eat, specifically if you are worried about E. Coli.
As we all know by now, E. Coli is a bacteria present in many meats (especially the uncooked kind) and unpasteurized drinks.  Many restaurants have had complaints of attendees getting food poisoning, and of those complaints, many people have actually got E. Coli. None of us want to be those people, so make sure that whenever you go to a restaurant that you:

• Make sure your food is thoroughly cooked. Don't ask for it lightly cooked, make sure the chef knows the correct temperature to cook meat at to kill bacteria.  If the chef does not know the correct answer (160 degrees Fahrenheit) then chances are higher your food may not be cooked completely.
• To make sure your food has been prepared correctly, cut into the meat before eating. The inside of the meat should be darkened brown, it should not be light pink or bloody, as these are signs of insufficient preparation. If your food has not been properly prepared, do not ask for a refund, leave the restaurant and file a complaint immediately.
• If ordering milk, apple juice or cider, always ask if their drink have been pasteurized.  If they have not, leave the restaurant as no restaurant should be serving unpasteurized refreshments.

Above all, never eat at restaurants who have received complaints about uncooked meals and poor chef hygiene. 

Eating Smart can save your health, always remember these tips wherever you and your friends or family choose to eat!

     

(Image obtained from http://www.cafepress.com/+anti_e_coli_large_mug,75205368)