Eggs:While most eggs aren't going to make anyone sick, expertsestimate that more than 2 million germy eggs (as in Salmonellainfected) get into circulation each year, sickening 660,000 peopleeach year and killing as many as 300. Um, maybe we should thinktwice about eating that cookiedough (or, judging by our conversation onVitamin G, perhaps you'd rather takeyour chances?). How to buy cleaner eggs?Make sure the carton says they're pasteurized and never buya dozen that contains any obvious cracks or leaks.

Peaches: They'repretty, but that's just skin-deep. Health experts warn thatpeach skins are doused in pesticides before they make it to grocerystore to prevent blemishes. On average, a peach can contain as manyas nine different pesticides, according to the USDA. This is onefruit you might want to buy organic (which may have blemishes, butwon't have pesticides). (Here'sHow Peaches Can Help You BuildMuscle.)

Pre-packaged salad mixes:Surprise! "Triple washed" doesn't meangerm-free say experts. Pathogens may still be lurking so be sure towash your greens before tossing in your salad bowl.(Don'tmake these salad mistakes!)

Melons: Get ready to begrossed out. According to the article, "when the FDAsampled domestically grown cantaloupe, it found that 3.5 percent ofthe melons carried Salmonella and Shigella, the latter a bacterianormally passed person-to-person. Among imported cantaloupe, 7percent tested positive for both bugs." Ewww. Your bestbet: Scrub your melons with a little mild dish soap and warm waterbefore slicing. (Stayhealthy with these delicious winterfruits!)

Scallions: Blamed for severalrecent outbreaks of Hepatitis A, and other bugs like the parasiteCryptosporidium, Shigella and Salmonella, scallions present a foodsafety problem because of the way they grow (in the dirt) and lackof proper washing. While you can't control what happens inrestaurant kitchens, you can give them a super-duper washing athome before cooking with.

Other dirty foods inthe article include chicken, ground beef and turkey, raw oysters,and cold cuts. Click hereto read 5 more.

The bottom line:Don't be afraid to eat these foods, just beaware of the precautions you need to take before enjoying them.Most food-borne illnesses are the result of hygiene carelessnesssomewhere in the food chain. Protect yourself!

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rateyour food safety awareness and diligence? Do you wash all yourproduce? How about pre-packaged salad mixes? And what about melons?Do any of you wash the exterior with soap and water before slicing.I do, and I'm patting myself on the back rightnow.

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