Health Home > Nutrition > Precautions for eating in restaurants

Precautions for eating in restaurants

Healthwise
By Debby Golonka, MPH

Did you find this helpful?

Be the first to rate!
Not yet rated

To protect yourself from food-borne illnesses, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends taking the following precautions while dining out.

Be choosy when selecting restaurants to frequent

  • Note the general cleanliness of the facility and staff. If you aren't confident that conditions are sanitary, leave.
  • Restaurants are inspected by the local health department for cleanliness and proper kitchen procedures. Find out the inspection scores of selected restaurants (they are sometimes posted in the restaurant).
  • Find out whether food safety training is regularly provided for staff.

Give specific directions and ask questions. Do everything you can to ensure your food is prepared properly.

  • Make sure meat is cooked at the proper temperature. For example, when ordering a hamburger, ask for it to be cooked to a temperature of 160°F (71.1°C) and send it back if it is still pink in the middle.
  • Order eggs cooked so the yolk is firm. When you order an item that combines eggs, such as omelets, request pasteurized eggs. Choose a different menu item if pasteurized eggs are not available.

Credits

Author Debby Golonka, MPH
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Last Updated December 3, 2008
Last Updated: 12/03/2008

Health Resources

help

Featured Expert

Yahoo! Experts share their tips and advice

Joy's Healthy Bite

By Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.

See All Yahoo Experts »

Yahoo! Health Groups

Join the Conversation

Join a Yahoo! Group and discuss with other memebers in the group. Share tips and experiences

See All Yahoo Groups »

Tip of the Day

Provided by: RealAgeNov 5, 2009

Piling your favorite sandwich fixings on the right kind of bread could mean healthier blood pressure. The right choice? One hundred percent whole-grain.

Read More »

View All Tips »