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 foodborne illnesses.
4. Forest Mushrooms
Foods You Should Never Eat Raw 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 food-borne 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 food-borne 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.