ARTICLES / General /Careful
in the Kitchen /
Other ArticlesBy Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
It can be easy to simply trust that the food
served at a restaurant is suitable for consumption.
Each person should learn to be their own advocate
and a senior loved one is no exception. They may be
experiencing an age-related dulling of the senses,
minimizing their ability to recognize an unsafe
situation. As at home, don’t eat raw or undercooked
food. Make sure hot meals are hot and if the food is
not cooked properly, encourage a loved one to speak
up and send it back. It’s better to be safe than
worry about “hurting someone’s feelings.”
The trend in restaurants today is leaning toward
large meal portions. Many seniors end up packing the
leftovers to take home. The FDA advises that if the
leftover food will not be refrigerated within two
hours of leaving the restaurant, it’s safer to leave
it there. Some senior centers across the country
won’t even allow food to be taken home because they
know of the dangers when food is left sitting out
too long.
Foods to Avoid
The FDA offers a list of foods seniors are
advised to avoid:
- Raw fin fish and shellfish, including
oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops;
- Hot dogs and luncheon meats, unless they are
reheated until steaming hot;
- Raw or unpasteurized milk or soft cheeses
(such as Feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined, and
Mexican-style cheese) unless they are labeled as
made with pasteurized milk;
- Refrigerated pates or meat spreads; (Canned
or shelf-stable pates and meat spreads may be
eaten.)
- Refrigerated smoked seafood unless it is
contained in a cooked dish, such as a casserole;
(Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be
eaten.)
- Raw or lightly cooked egg or egg products
containing raw eggs such as salad dressings,
cookie or cake batter, sauces, and beverages
such as eggnog; (Foods made from commercially
pasteurized eggs are safe to eat.)
- Raw meat or poultry;
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