9 Foods That Shouldn't Be Consumed Raw
We're all very well aware that eating raw
meat can be really dangerous for our health, but we're still in the dark
when it comes to many other food items. This is especially true in
regard to plant-based foods, as most people think that all veggies and
fruit can be safely consumed raw, which is just not true. Some
surprising examples of plant foods that should never be eaten raw are
eggplants, potatoes, and beans. Find out why these and several other
ordinary foods can be dangerous when consumed uncooked below.
1. Flour
Are your kids or grandkids fans of eating raw cookie dough? Many kids
and even adults are, and we can hardly blame them, as that stuff is
absolutely delicious. That said, no one should be eating raw dough,
really, for several reasons. For one, it contains raw eggs (more on that
later), but the raw flour that's another essential ingredient is no
less harmful either, as it turns out.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention point out on their website
that raw flour may become contaminated with dangerous bacteria like
E.coli during transportation and storage, and so consuming flour raw
could lead to bacterial infections. Cooking kills off all the germs
lurking in flour.
2. Potatoes
Potatoes are, without a doubt, one of the most common kitchen staples in
existence, but it turns out that they are more finicky than they
appear. For one, you shouldn't try eating potatoes raw, as they contain
certain starches that our digestive system cannot handle. As a result,
eating uncooked potatoes can result in bloating and other stomach
issues. Cooked potatoes don’t cause the same adverse effects because
heat breaks down these starches.
You should also beware of green spots on potatoes and throw them away
immediately.
3. Milk
Most people are largely unaware of the
potential dangers raw milk poses to health because we're so used to
buying pasteurized milk in stores these days. When raw, milk could
contain many dangerous bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. Data by the
American Food and Drug Administration suggests that raw milk is 150
times more likely to cause digestive issues compared to all other dairy
products.
So, if you'll ever have the chance to drink or purchase fresh cows milk,
make sure it has been boiled before drinking or using it in foods, as
drinking raw milk can cause food-borne illnesses.
4. Forest Mushrooms
The main problem with forest mushrooms, even when you know that it's the
edible variety and not the poisonous one, is that they have been
growing in an uncontrolled environment and may harbor dangerous
pathogens, so cleaning, washing, and cooking them thoroughly is a must.
We'd recommend staying away from picking any wild mushrooms, though, if
you or someone with you isn't a seasoned professional at spotting the
poisonous mushroom varieties since as much as touching certain poisonous
mushrooms can pose a danger to one's health.
As for store-bought mushrooms, they are most often safe to consume raw,
but foodies point out that cooking them up with some spices may result
in a much tastier meal.
5. Certain Beans
Beans are certainly some of the most nutritious and healthy foods out
there, but you should always cook them thoroughly before eating.
Uncooked kidney beans, for example, have the toxin phytohemagglutinin
that causes symptoms similar to food poisoning when consumed.
Raw Lima beans (pictured above), on the other hand, contain compounds
called cyanogenic glycosides, a natural protective mechanism for the
plant, that produce hydrogen cyanide when chewed on. Therefore, make
sure to cook or at least boil all beans thoroughly before adding them to
foods.
6. Eggs 
Raw eggs were once considered good pre-workout food, but we must point
out that eating raw eggs alone or in a meal is risky due to its
potential contamination with Salmonella. Eggs should be cooked at the
temperature of at least 145°F (63°C) for the bacterium to die. When eggs
are combined with other ingredients, in turn, the necessary cooking
temperature should be increased to 160°F (71°C).
7. Hot dogs
Most of us wouldn't dare to eat raw meat, but some people believe it's
safe to eat raw hot dogs because they have been pre-cooked and smoked,
which is just wrong. According to the FDA, hot dogs, even when packaged
and sealed, can become the breeding ground for the bacterium called
Listeria that causes foodborne illness. Therefore, it's crucial to boil
or at least microwave the hot dogs before eating.
8. Eggplant
Consuming raw eggplant can be toxic, especially when they've been picked
young. This is because raw eggplants contain the toxin called solanine.
One average eggplant contains around 11mg of solanine, so you’d have to
eat a lot of eggplants to experience any symptoms (eating 12 raw
eggplants would is the lethal dose). Still, it's better to be safe than
sorry, especially since some people are allergic to eggplant.
9. Sprouts
Adding alfalfa and radish sprouts into fresh salads was a trend not so
long ago, but it turns out that you should always cook sprouts before
consuming them, too. The sprouts themselves may be healthy to eat, but
they grow in warm and humid conditions that are essentially a petri dish
for bacteria like E.coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, all common
foodborne illnesses that are present in most crops and seeds you can buy
at the supermarket.
The contamination issue is so widespread that many restaurants have
stopped using sprouts altogether. Therefore, it's best to cook the
sprouts before eating or avoid them altogether.