INTERVIEWER: Here's something
you probably did not know.
All-you-can-eat is actually
Latin for bacteria all over
your food.
OK, we made it up.
But seriously, if you aren't
careful, you could get more
than you bargained
for at the $6.99 buffet.
Here are five tiny terribles
that might be lurking
in your everyday buffet.
Number one, I know you're
probably wondering,
hm, what's the leading cause
of diarrhea?
Well, it's actually norovirus,
and it comes from dirty hands.
If you're the one making
the food, wash up for a full 20
seconds each time.
No cheating.
Number two, E.coli.
The main sources of E.coli
are undercooked meat
and raw veggies.
So if the beef is still mooing,
back off that buffet.
And don't grab buffet food
with your bare hands, either.
People carry E.coli, too.
Use the tongs.
Number three, listeria.
It rhymes with hysteria.
Here's why.
It mainly affects
pregnant women, older adults,
newborns, and people
with weak immune systems.
So if you fall into any
of those categories,
you might want to avoid
hot dogs, deli meats,
soft cheeses,
and smoked seafood.
Listeria can cause anything
from flu-like symptoms
to even a full-blown assault
on the nervous system,
so be super-careful.
Number four, hepatitis.
In this case, we're talking
hepatitis A, which you usually
get by eating fecal matter.
Gross.
If this one goes from the buffet
to your belly, symptoms include
diarrhea, fever, fatigue,
cramps, and you could even
become jaundiced.
Number five, salmonella, one
of the most common causes
of food poisoning in America.
It's found
in raw or undercooked meat,
fish, and eggs.
While it probably won't kill
you, you'll definitely feel
the symptoms for the next 12
to 72 hours.
Think diarrhea, fever, cramps,
and vomiting.
If you do come down with it,
drink plenty of fluids.
And if the symptoms are severe,
it's time to see the doc.
Listen, it's pretty simple.
If a buffet is in your future,
the best way to stay safe
is to follow a few basic rules.
Hot food should be hot.
Cold food should be cold.
Check the freshness of the food.
If it looks or smells even
a tiny bit off, skip it.
If you notice or suspect food
of having been left out for more
than two hours, avoid it.
Make sure raw and cooked foods
don't co-mingle.
And make sure there are
sneeze guards over the food.
Seriously.
Most of the time, buffets
are safe, so feel free to strap
on the feed bag
and join in on the frenzy.
Just keep these tips in mind.