You’ve probably noticed all the food recalls in the news recently. In fact Wicker and Wilde mentioned that cucumbers available in many Virginia grocery stores were recalled yesterday, and those recalls are part of the reason food-related illnesses are on the rise. They’re up 41% from the previous year, according to the watchdog group U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. While all these highly publicized foodborne illness outbreaks can be scary, some foods are more likely to be the culprits and a new report reveals which ones they are.
Consumer Reports’ annual risky food report is now out, naming the top foods of 2024 that were subject to the most recalls and/or linked with the largest illness outbreaks.
- Their list is based on the number of illnesses and deaths associated with bacterial food contamination last year, how large the outbreaks were, the number of recalls and the amount of food recalled.
- Salmonella, Listeria and E.coli were to blame for last year’s outbreaks, found in foods like deli meat, some produce, and dairy.
The Top 10 Riskiest Foods of 2024:
1. Deli meat
2. Cucumbers
3. Raw dairy
4. Cotija and queso fresco cheese
5. Eggs
6. Onions
7. Leafy greens
8. Organic carrots
9. Organic basil
10. Ready-to-eat/cooked poultry and meat
Don't forget to prewash all of your fresh fruit and vegetables and listen to Wicker and Wilde for the latest in food news...and all the other things, good and bad, happening in your hometown. It pays to be LIVE and LOCAL and Mix 98.1 will always be such! Happy eating, RVA.