The US authorities estimates that there are 48 million instances of foodborne sickness annually. That’s about one in six Americans coping with signs equivalent to upset abdomen, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. According to knowledge collected from private damage legislation agency Wagner Reese, sure meals within the fridge usually tend to trigger foodborne sickness than others. As of April 2025, Wagner Reese analyzed Google search quantity and TikTookay pattern development for phrases like “can [food] make you sick” and “how long is [food] safe in the fridge.” Using each whole searches and how briskly concern is rising, the agency calculated a weighted rating to assign every meals a priority stage: excessive, medium or gentle.According to Wagner Reese’s methodology, the next are the 15 refrigerated meals elevating essentially the most crimson flags concerning meals security issues. We additionally included the US Department of Agriculture suggestions for meals storage through its FoodKeeper app. 1. Unpasteurized apple cider Unpasteurized apple cider hasn’t been handled to kill dangerous micro organism and will trigger foodborne sickness. jayk7/Getty PicturesLevel of shopper concern: HighReality: In a publish on juice security, the US Food and Drug Administration studies that unpasteurized juice that hasn’t been handled to kill dangerous micro organism could possibly be contaminated and trigger foodborne sickness. Pasteurized recent apple cider lasts two to 3 days at room temperature, but when saved within the fridge, it could keep good for 2 to 3 weeks.2. Rotisserie rooster Level of shopper concern: HighReality: If refrigerated from the date of buy, rotisserie rooster ought to be consumed inside three to 4 days. As for undercooked or uncooked rooster, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies that it could trigger foodborne sickness. 3. Cooked rice Level of shopper concern: MediumReality: Leftover cooked rice could cause foodborne sickness or “fried rice syndrome.” To forestall this, cooked rice ought to be consumed inside 4 to 6 days. 4. Unpasteurized milk Raw or unpasteurized milk could cause foodborne sickness as a result of pasteurization kills germs that trigger this sickness. Corina Ciocirlan/Getty PicturesLevel of shopper concern: MediumReality: According to the CDC, unpasteurized or uncooked milk could cause foodborne sickness as a result of pasteurization kills germs that trigger this sickness. Last 12 months, uncooked milk was additionally recalled after testing optimistic for hen flu.For milk that is pasteurized, comply with the use-by date on the packaging. 5. Sliced ham and turkey Level of shopper concern: MediumReality: Sliced ham ought to be consumed inside two weeks if refrigerated and inside three to 5 days if refrigerated after opening. The identical goes for sliced turkey. The CDC studies that merchandise offered at deli counters may be contaminated with listeria, which is not killed by refrigeration. This occurred in September 2024, inflicting a recall of Boar’s Head deli meat. 6. Peeled hard-boiled eggs Level of shopper concern: MildReality: After being refrigerated, hard-boiled eggs ought to be consumed inside one week. The American Egg Board notes that hard-boiled eggs can spoil sooner than uncooked eggs. 7. Cooked pasta If refrigerated, cooked pasta ought to be consumed inside 3 to 5 days. Manu Vega/Getty PicturesLevel of shopper concern: MildReality: If refrigerated, cooked pasta ought to be consumed inside three to 5 days. Similar to leftover cooked rice, it could additionally trigger foodborne sickness if not saved correctly. 8. Cooked potatoes Level of shopper concern: MildReality: Cooked potatoes ought to be consumed inside three to 5 days if refrigerated. Michigan State University’s Extension Safe Food and Water program warns that baked potatoes wrapped in foil could cause botulism and have been linked to foodborne sickness outbreaks, so it is important to take away the foil earlier than refrigerating.9. Cream cheese and feta Level of shopper concern: MildReality: If refrigerated from the date of buy, cream cheese ought to be eaten inside two weeks. Soft cheese, like feta, ought to be consumed inside one to 2 weeks. The CDC studies that tender cheeses usually tend to be contaminated with listeria than exhausting cheeses on account of their excessive moisture content material. This is very the case in the event that they’re made with uncooked, unpasteurized milk. 10. Homemade ice cream Homemade ice cream could cause salmonella on account of uncooked or undercooked eggs. Mariya Borisova/Getty PicturesLevel of shopper concern: MildReality: The FDA studies that yearly, home made ice cream causes a number of outbreaks of salmonella an infection, affecting a number of hundred individuals, on account of uncooked or undercooked eggs. To fight this, the FDA recommends changing the uncooked eggs in your recipe with pasteurized egg merchandise, egg substitutes or pasteurized shell eggs. You can even use a cooked egg base or make the recipe with out eggs. Even when utilizing pasteurized merchandise, it is suggested that you just begin with a cooked base. For all different dairy elements utilized in your home made ice cream, ensure that they’re pasteurized. If frozen from the date of buy, ice cream ought to be consumed inside six months. The FoodKeeper app would not point out home made ice cream, however primarily based on a number of recipes, it ought to be good for as much as one month, if saved correctly.11. Hummus Level of shopper concern: MildReality: Commercial hummus that is pasteurized and made with preservatives is sweet for as much as three months if refrigerated. Once opened and refrigerated, it is good for seven days. As for hummus made at residence that’s unpasteurized and would not comprise preservatives, it is good for seven days within the fridge. 12. Undercooked kidney beans Level of shopper concern: MildReality: The FDA studies that if kidney beans aren’t cooked correctly, they’ll trigger sickness. As a outcome, it is beneficial that uncooked kidney beans be soaked for at the least 5 hours earlier than being boiled in water for at the least 30 minutes. Dried beans ought to be consumed inside one to 2 years if saved within the pantry. If refrigerated, cooked beans ought to be eaten inside three to 5 days. 13. Packaged salads Consume bagged greens inside three to 5 days if refrigerated. Toni Jardon/Getty PicturesLevel of shopper concern: MildReality: Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences states that although packaged salads might comprise dangerous microorganisms, it doesn’t suggest each package deal is contaminated. Follow the use-by date included on packaged salads. For bagged greens particularly, if refrigerated after buy, eat them inside three to 5 days. If opened and refrigerated, eat them inside two days. 14. Alfalfa sprouts Level of shopper concern: MildReality: According to the University of Connecticut’s Food Safety program, sprouts may be dangerous as a result of the micro organism that trigger foodborne sickness can develop shortly when the vegetation are sprouting in heat, humid environments. If eaten uncooked or undercooked, this will increase the danger of sickness. If refrigerated, bean sprouts ought to be consumed inside 5 to 10 days. 15. Raw cookie dough Level of shopper concern: MildReality: For refrigerated cookie dough, comply with the use-by date on the package deal. According to the CDC, uncooked cookie dough may be dangerous as a result of it accommodates untreated flour that will harbor dangerous micro organism. Dough with uncooked eggs carries the identical concern. That’s why it’s best to at all times bake non-edible cookie dough in accordance with package deal directions earlier than consuming it.How to refrigerate meals to stop foodborne sicknessThe US Department of Health and Human Services advises refrigerating perishable meals inside two hours, dividing it into small parts and storing it in shallow containers after cooking. If the meals is in an setting the place the temperature is above 90 levels Fahrenheit, refrigerate it inside one hour. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service states that scorching meals may be positioned straight within the fridge or chilled in a chilly water bathtub earlier than refrigeration. Your fridge ought to be 40 levels Fahrenheit at most, whereas your freezer ought to be 0 levels Fahrenheit at most. To forestall cross-contamination, retailer meat, seafood and poultry in separate containers. Eggs ought to be saved of their authentic carton contained in the fridge and never in its door.Once your meals is correctly saved within the fridge, know when it is time to throw it out. The useful FoodKeeper app, developed by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute, may help you establish storage time for meals and drinks. Don’t solely depend on how the meals appears, smells or tastes.When reheating leftovers, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends utilizing a meals thermometer to make sure they attain 165 levels Fahrenheit. Frozen leftovers may be thawed within the fridge, chilly water or microwave, or reheated completely in a saucepan, microwave or oven.
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