Not the Oysters !?!
Bacteria: The Good, the Bad, and the Flesh Eating
Bacteria are microorganisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye. They’re all around us floating in the air we breathe, living on our cell phones, and even present on the food we consume. Bacteria can be classified as either “good” or “bad.”
Good bacteria, better known as probiotics, are beneficial microorganisms that support human health. These probiotics are found in fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and your favorite kombucha drinks.
Bad bacteria, also known as pathogenic bacteria, are microorganisms that cause disease, illness, and infection in humans and other living organisms. That’s why it’s crucial to wash your hands and clean your fruits, vegetables, and meat. If you’re not properly sanitizing, you’re putting yourself and others at risk.
Flesh Eating Bacteria
In the Gulf States, there’s been a concerning rise in cases of a flesh-eating bacteria found in the Gulf of Mexico. The bacteria, known as Vibrio vulnificus (pronounced vir-bree-oh vul-nif-ih-kus), is one of many species in the Vibrionaceae family. It thrives in coastal waters, including saltwater and brackish water (a mix of salt and freshwater).
Vibrio is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause severe illness and even death. Louisiana has reported high numbers of cases linked to the consumption of raw oysters. And to answer your question on where are they serving infected raw oysters? Everywhere. Let’s be real: it’s not safe to eat anything uncooked these days and that little lemon and hot sauce that you are putting on your raw oysters is not saving you from it .
There are political decisions being made that are cutting back on Food and Drug administration screening programs. These are the programs that ensure our food is clean and free of harmful pathogens. So now, more than ever, it’s up to us to protect ourselves. That means avoiding raw foods and cleaning everything properly.
Tips to Avoid Harmful Bacteria
WASH YOUR HANDS
This should go without saying. You learned this in kindergarten. Wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap after using the restroom, being outside, touching animals, and before eating. Don’t be the problem.
Practice Good Hygiene (Geaux wash ya!)
Keep a clean home and a clean body. Consider:
Showering before bed
Showering after fishing or being in the swamp
Removing outside clothes before lying on your bed or couch
Removing shoes before entering your home
Keeping your animals clean
Keeping all open wounds clean and protected
Investing in laundry sanitizers and disinfectant cleaning supplies
Clean Your Food
(You can’t eat at everybody house or restaurant.)
Reports suggest that the U.S. FDA has suspended the proficiency testing program that ensures food safety and pathogen control. So here’s what you can do:
Cook your food properly
(LEAVE THE RAW FOOD ALONE, FOR F*’S SAKE)Clean your fruits, vegetables, and meat with white vinegar before cooking or consuming
White vinegar isn’t the most effective disinfectant, but its acetic acid properties have been shown to eliminate many foodborne pathogens.
You can reduce your chances of falling victim to harmful bacteria by keeping these good habits. I’m not saying you need to become a full-blown germaphobe, but given the current state of science and food safety in this country, you can’t afford to be uninformed or careless.
Some good articles to read through about bacteria …………….
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279387/
https://www.britannica.com/science/bacteria
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/germs.html