What Food Should You Never Eat Raw?

While vegetables and fruits are often most delicious (and nutritious) in their raw state, there are a number of food products that should never be eaten raw.  For health reasons, some foods needs to be cooked or pasteurized before they are safe to eat. 

Meat definitely falls into the category of food that should not be eaten raw.  Meat can carry a wide range of illnesses, including e-coli and salmonella.  Many restaurants will not serve a steak or other form of red meat that is cooked less than medium well, and with good reason, as raw meat can be dangerous.  The same is true of raw eggs, which can cause salmonella poisoning if they are not cooked properly.

Shellfish should also not be eaten raw.  While the risks of poisoning are low, raw shellfish has been linked to everything from hepatitis and mercury poisoning, to gastrointestinal problems.

Raw milk also poses risks to consumers, especially when it comes from cows who are given growth hormones and antibiotics to make them produce as much milk as possible.

When considering whether or not a food is safe to be eaten raw, it can be a good idea to look at its origin.  Animal and animal-based products should almost always be cooked before eating.  An animal can be carrying any number of illnesses or chemicals within its body, and modern factory conditions can cause a small outbreak of sickness to spread rapidly and infect all meat produced in that chain.

For a slightly safer bet, always choose free range foods from animals that are not kept in factory or battery conditions, or better still, buy direct from your local butcher.  Check the packaging to look for any of a number of stamps from animal welfare organizations to certify that the animals who produced your meat were kept in more natural and healthy conditions.  Most health food stores carry a wide range of ‘cruelty free’ products that may lower your risk of food-borne illness.