Constant food poisoning - downtown DC

[Anonymous]

The only pack of definitely rotten chicken I ever bought was from a now-closed Safeway in Rockville.

I lived at Dupont Circle for a summer and shopped at a small Safeway there. City grocery stores have a lot of substandard stuff going on in the back.

Maybe you need to pick out your own meat.

I would also recommend turning down your fridge setting to make it cooler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That would be weird. Why do you think it's food poisoning rather than a stomach bug? And have you started taking GERD medicine? That reduces your ability to fight off food poisoning, supposedly.

A”stomach bug” and “food poisoning” are two laymen terms describing the same thing: a pathogen that has entered your GI system.

Coming From dirty hands, dirty lettuce, dirty undercooked chicken, dirty hands that TOUCHED food that then went into your mouth ….

[Anonymous]

I totally don’t trust food delivery.

[Anonymous]

You could just be reinfecting each other with norovirus or one of the other virulent stomach bugs. Do check your cleaning supplies because some work better on gastro bugs than others and I can never remember which are killed by bleach and which need something else.

And I lived in Dupont circle a few years ago and never had groceries spoil on my walk home. That's weird and definitely would not have gotten them hotter than putting them in a hot car in a suburban parking lot since everything was so close. I use an insulated bag for freezer stuff.

I have noticed that when I've gotten grocery delivery the food is not always as good. I'm a discerning shopper so I'd pass on anything that didn't look or smell right in the store and improvise my meal planning, but the instacart person is just following the list so they'll get the food whether it looks good or not.

[Anonymous]

Don't have your food delivered if there's any dairy or meat. They pack all the bags early and then unless they have a good refrigeration system it all waits for the drivers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alternatively, you're onto your would-be murderer!

MurdererS. It's a conspiracy when there is more than one party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our family has had more food poisoning the last two years than our whole lives combined, especially in the warmer months since we moved downtown. I also feel like we end up with more spoiled food from the grocery stores than we ever did living in the suburbs. Is this because we’re getting our groceries delivered or because we’re walking 20min home from Trader Joe’s with groceries? Or employees being careless with food safety? Also feel like restaurant food quality has gone so far downhill…

Anyone else in the same boat? We live in the DuPont / Logan area

Most food poisoning is from unwashed hands and unsanitary conditions due to bad dirty workers. Avoid those places.

[Anonymous]

How long do your meats stay in your fridge before you cook them? I’m wondering about your fridge.

Also, teens are terrible about food hygiene. Are they eating unwashed fruit/lettuce? Or double dipping a spoon into the yogurt/peanut butter repeatedly for a taste?

[Anonymous]

Rfk jr effect
But seriously, I’d go to a gastroenterologist
Do you have a filter on your sink or a Brita?

[Anonymous]

I feel you probably have more exposure to germs with your environment, perhaps daycare.

I hate having groceries delivered, because I prefer picking out items myself and the people shopping don't prioritize the freshest items, and your food could be spending extra time waiting to be processed.

Also kids get sick a lot, when I was a teacher I was sick often the first couple years with all the germs flying around.

[Anonymous]

I have food delivered and no issue. Maybe its something else.

[Anonymous]

Are your teens cooking more? They might not be handling raw meat properly. Are they using the same knife or cutting board for veggies after they've prepared meat on it? Is your dishwasher cleaning properly? What about dish sponges and dish towels--are they clean?

[Anonymous]

Wipe down your refrigerator with disinfecting wipes, wipe down all the jars etc. in fridge, if you have food stored in plastic bags then switch the old bags for new ones. Make sure fridge is at a very cold setting. Wipe down surfaces in the kitchen. Have a family conference and discuss the need to wash hands after handling raw meats, wash the sink/implements, don't touch handles etc. after handling raw chicken. Stress washing hands as soon as you come home to avoid spreading germs.

Pretend we're back in Covid days until you quit getting these outbreaks.

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids? If they’re young, it’s more likely you’re getting some strain of norovirus than anything food related.

I also work and live not far from downtown and have never experienced this problem with grocery stores or restaurants. So I’m going with virus here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I totally don’t trust food delivery.

For sure. They always poach a little food, sticking their mitts in your cuisine.