As the holiday season approaches, a local doctor warns of food safety concerns that could put a major damper on your festive spirit — and possibly even be fatal.
While the United States has a relatively robust food safety system, people don’t grow all their own food at home, so it’s hard for them to know what they’re really consuming, according to Dr. Yonette Davis, senior medical director at Oak Street Health, which has several clinics in the Bronx and citywide.
“It is what it is. We are a country of mass production,” said Davis.
Several recent outbreaks have made national headlines, including E. coli-contaminated onions in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders and listeria found in several Boar’s Head deli products and 40 brands of frozen pancakes and waffles.
Even yesterday, several brands of organic baby carrots were recalled due to E. coli — and New York is home to five of the 39 people nationwide who became sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Several factors converge to put elderly Bronxites at potentially higher risk for foodborne disease, said Davis. People whose sense of smell or sight is diminished may be less likely to detect a problem with their food or realize it is expired, she said.
Also, Davis said she sees many patients who are isolated and have a hard time getting out to buy fresh ingredients — and places to find nice produce can be hard for anyone to come by in the Bronx. Those who rely heavily on processed and frozen foods may face higher risks than those who cook from scratch using fresh foods, said Davis.
Given the number of recalls currently in place, everyone should watch out for symptoms such as fever, muscle pains, diarrhea and nausea — especially if they persist longer than 24 hours, Davis said. She advised that patients with compromised immune systems should call a doctor even at the first sign of symptoms, because while many foodborne illnesses resolve on their own, some require hospitalization and can be fatal.
Davis said the holidays can be a good time to go through your cabinets and refrigerator to throw out old items. While she has not yet seen a major foodborne illness outbreak in the Bronx, Davis emphasized the importance of communicating recall information and awareness of symptoms that could indicate more than simple food poisoning.
“The good thing about older adults is they still look at local news,” Davis said.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
