10 Risky foods regulated by the Federal Drug Administration

According to a survey conducted by the Center for Science in the public interest (CSPI), was a list of the 10 riskiest foods regulated by the FDA published. (Meat, pork and poultry were not included in the study as they are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.) The list may surprise you and may even contain some of your favorite foods.

The list produced by CSPI in order of danger is--leafy greens, eggs, tuna, oysters, potatoes, cheese, ice cream, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, and berries. According to CSPI, received these foods account for almost 40 percent of the food outbreak reports between the years 1990-2006. The types of diseases involved include stomach cramps, salmonella poisoning, disability and even death.

What causes these foods are so dangerous? Most of the danger coming with leaf vegetables from the pre-washed, pre-packaged Salad Greens, which usually comes from different sources. An infected item can contaminate a large bundle of green. Infected lettuce Greens, which includes the iceburg lettuce, romaine lettuce, spinach and cabbage accounted for 30% of diseases caused by the top 10.

Eggs, the second most dangerous foods on the list may cause samonella if consumed raw or undercooked. Raw and undercooked eggs used in homemade ice accounted for half of the salmonella outbreak in ice.

Potatoes are on the list because they are used to make potato salad, which often contain eggs, which can contaminate salad, if they are not refrigerated and mayonnaise.

Fresh tuna is on the list, because it can cause scromboid poisoning. Sushi and seared tuna served in restaurants has caused 65 percent of poisoning cases reported scromboid.

What can be done to reduce diseases caused by these 10 foods? The FDA has toughened some standards for such things as eggs, there must now be tested for salmonella poisoning of producers. We as consumers can help contamination during washing food before serving and make sure you don't cross contaminate food preparation surfaces. By using common sense and cleanliness of preparation, the chances of disease is reduced.