Do you eat salsa or guacamole any chance you get? Although there are many healthy aspects of these two foods, recent information from the CDC presented at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Atlanta on July 13 of this year shows that there are not-so-healthy aspects as well.

A new report from the CDC reveals that salsa and guacamole are two very significant sources of food-borne illnesses. In fact, the rate of food-borne illnesses – causing anything from a mild stomach ache to life-threatening organ failure – has more than doubled for salsa and guacamole served in restaurants. The CDC specifically reported that:

  • Out of 136 salsa or guacamole outbreaks, 84% occurred in restaurants and delis.
  • Salsa and guacamole outbreaks accounted for 1.5% of all food establishment outbreaks between 1984 and 1987; that figured jumped to 3.9% between 1998 and 2008.
  • Poor storage, such as temperature, were reported in nearly one third of the salsa and guacamole outbreaks.
  • Food workers were the source of contamination in 20% of the restaurant outbreaks.

Why is this? Because both foods are made using fresh ingredients – fresh avocado in guacamole, and fresh tomatoes, onions and peppers in salsa – there is a chance that they will spoil and bacteria, such as salmonella, will set up housekeeping if these ingredients are not properly stored and refrigerated.  In restaurants, salsa and guacamole are prepared in large batches, so that even a few bacteria which have taken up residence the spoiled ingredients of these foods can infect many people.

Should you give up eating your favorite foods? Being aware that any foods made with fresh ingredients have the potential to cause a food-borne illness is the first step in the battle against food contamination.  When you prepare these foods at home, be careful to always refrigerate and store not only the fresh ingredients, but also the prepared guacamole and salsa, properly. And when you go to restaurants and think about ordering either of these foods, consider ordering something else not made with fresh ingredients, or ask when the guacamole or salsa was prepared and if your waiter has tried it today.

Now, what about frozen mice? A recent article in the New York Times* stated that there has been a recall of millions of the frozen mice used for feeding snakes and other exotic pets. Why? Because of salmonella outbreaks traced directly to frozen mice sold over the internet by a company in Georgia. And why should we worry if our pet python gets salmonella? Actually, it’s the humans who are getting salmonella simply by handling the frozen mice and not washing their hands or cleaning the countertop afterwards.  So, yes – you even have to be careful with some pet foods!

Please see one of our past blogs for more information on, and ways to avoid food-borne illnesses:

http://www.smartwomanshealth.com/horn_miller_blog/?p=477

*Friday, July 30, 2010 pg 1.