Dining out is a popular pastime, but it's essential to be aware of potential food safety risks. We all have our go to foods whenever we are at a restaurant and enjoy the prospect of getting to eat their favorite meal. But even in the most high-end restaurants, the risk of getting sick always lingers. You never know when or what may cause issues for you

Food poisoning is a common problem that can lead to things like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach upset. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 48 million people in the United States get sick from food poisoning each year. While sometimes it is unavoidable, being aware of these things can help you understand things that can go wrong and taking precautions when eating at restaurants. It's crucial to be informed to protect your health and enjoy your dining experience without worry. Here are some foods you should either avoid or be careful while eating.

Foods You Should Be Careful About While Dining Out

Eggs

Even eggs that look fine can have Salmonella bacteria. These bacteria can make you sick with stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Restaurants can cause outbreaks if they don't cook eggs to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, store them at the wrong temperature, use unpasteurized eggs, or use dirty cooking tools. These bad practices let bacteria grow and make people sick. So, it's important to cook and handle eggs the right way.

Pre-Cut Melons

Melons that are cut up ahead of time, like in fruit salads, are more likely to cause food poisoning. When you cut a melon, bacteria on the outside can get to the inside. If lots of fruit is cut in one place, it's easier for bacteria to spread. Since people eat melons raw, there's no cooking to kill the germs. These germs, like Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli, can make you really sick. So, be careful with pre-cut melons.

Sprouts

Sprouts are healthy, but they grow in warm, wet places where bacteria like Listeria like to live. Even washing sprouts doesn't always get rid of these germs. And because people usually eat sprouts raw, there's no cooking to kill the bacteria. This makes sprouts a big cause of food poisoning. There have been lots of outbreaks linked to sprouts, with many people getting sick and even ending up in the hospital. So, it's a good idea to avoid sprouts, especially at restaurants.

Undercooked Meat

Meat that isn't cooked enough can have harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter. Campylobacter is a common cause of diarrhea. Ground beef is extra risky because it's often made from meat from many different cows. If one cow is sick, all the ground beef can be contaminated. While quickly cooking the outside of a steak can kill surface germs, undercooked ground beef and other meats are still dangerous. Cooking meat all the way through is super important.

Fishes

Some fish can cause specific kinds of food poisoning. Ciguatera poisoning happens when you eat fish that ate poisonous algae, like grouper, sea bass, and red snapper. Cooking doesn't get rid of these poisons. Scombroid poisoning can happen if fish like tuna, sardines, and mahi-mahi aren't stored correctly, which lets bacteria make poisons. Cooking doesn't help with this either. It's important for restaurants to get their fish from good places and keep it stored at the right temperature.

Oyster

Oysters filter water, which means they can collect bacteria and viruses. A big risk is vibriosis, which is caused by Vibrio bacteria that live in warm ocean water where oysters grow. Eating raw or undercooked oysters is very risky. These bacteria can cause serious sickness, and sometimes even infections in the blood. Cooking oysters completely to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit makes them much safer. So, cooked oysters are a better choice.

Leafy Greens

Greens like lettuce and spinach can get contaminated with bacteria from things like dirty water, animal poop, and not handling them correctly. Even washing them might not get rid of all the germs, especially if they're inside the leaves. Bacteria can grow fast on greens that are wilted or slimy. Restaurants need to get their greens from good farms, wash them really well, and store them correctly. Choosing fresh, crispy greens helps reduce the risk.

Steer clear of certain food items in buffets

Buffets have a higher chance of food poisoning for a few reasons. Many people use the same serving spoons, which spreads germs. Food can sit out for too long at the wrong temperature, letting bacteria grow. Also, people might cough or sneeze near the food. Common germs at buffets include bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, and viruses like norovirus. Restaurants need to check food temperatures, change serving spoons often, and make sure everyone is washing their hands.

A new global analysis published in The Lancet has revealed that the probability of dying from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease has increased in India over the past decade. The study points out that while four out of every five countries saw a decline in chances of dying from a chronic disease, India may stand as an outlier in this health trend.

The study, conducted by researchers from Imperial College London, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and other global institutions, looked at mortality data from 185 countries and territories between 2010 and 2019. India registered a worrying rise, with women experiencing a sharper increase than men.

What the Numbers Show

Globally, the probability of dying from an NCD between birth and age 80 declined in 82% of countries for females and in 79% for males. These improvements were largely due to fewer deaths from cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, and conditions such as stroke.

In stark contrast, India joined a small group of countries, including Papua New Guinea,, where deaths from chronic illnesses went up for both genders. The analysis noted that “deaths from most causes of chronic disease increased in India, with heart disease and diabetes contributing heavily.”

The report also underlined that among large nations, countries such as China, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia, and Brazil recorded declines in both male and female chronic disease death risks, highlighting India’s outlier status.

Women Face Higher Risk

The Lancet study highlighted an alarming gender divide in India. While both men and women saw an increase in mortality risk, the rise was steeper for women. This suggests that Indian women are facing growing vulnerability to lifestyle-related illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, potentially compounded by limited access to timely diagnosis and treatment.

Also Read: A Higher Dose Of Semaglutide Helps 1 In 3 Obese Adults Lose 25% Body Weight: Lancet Study

Globally, women have generally benefited more from improved chronic disease management compared to men. India’s reversal of that trend raises fresh concerns about the country’s ability to meet health equity goals.

What Is Driving the Trend?

Experts say India’s growing urbanization, dietary changes, sedentary lifestyles, and high levels of air pollution are fueling the surge in NCDs, as is also stated in a recent 2025 study published in Cureus, titled: Urban-Rural Health Transitions in India: A Comprehensive Review of Non-communicable Disease Trends and Risk Landscapes. Additionally, another 2023 study published in Cureus, titled: The Transformation of The Indian Healthcare System, notes that the country has long struggled with health system constraints, including unequal access to preventive and primary care.

While deaths from communicable diseases have declined due to better vaccination and treatment, the vacuum has been filled by chronic conditions that demand long-term management. The study points to heart disease and diabetes as the leading drivers of India’s rising death risk, alongside growing cases of dementia, alcohol-related disorders, and cancers of the pancreas and liver.

Global Commitments Under Pressure

The findings come at a critical time. Nations, under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have pledged to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030. The upcoming Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly is expected to set out a new vision for tackling these conditions, including scaling up prevention and treatment.

For India, however, the new data suggests the country risks falling further behind on these global commitments.

The past year we have observed more and more incorporation of AI in different aspects of our life. Not just for writing or making pictures, it is also now being used to identify people’s faces through facial recognition software, helping in documentation as well as in medicine. New software are being developed to assist medical professionals, not only does this help them identify diseases but also speeds up the process.

Having AI in medicine could also lower the cost and help many people get the help they need. This has led researchers to look for different ways to teach AI how to recognize and diagnose issues. One such disease that can cause people blindness, could actually be identified by AI, according to new research.

A new study has shown that artificial intelligence (AI) can accurately predict which patients with a condition called keratoconus need treatment to save their vision. This research, presented at the 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), is a major breakthrough for managing this eye disease, which often affects young adults. The findings were shared at a major conference for eye surgeons.

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is an eye condition where the cornea, the clear, front part of the eye, starts to bulge outwards and change shape. This causes vision to become blurry and distorted. If the condition gets worse, a person might eventually need a cornea transplant, which is a major surgery.

Right now, doctors can only track the disease by having patients come in for frequent check-ups over many years. This is time-consuming for both the patient and the hospital. The main treatment, called cross-linking, is very successful at stopping the disease, but doctors haven't had a reliable way to know which patients will get worse and need the treatment right away versus those who can just be watched.

How the AI Algorithm Works For Medicine

Researchers from a London eye hospital and a university created an AI program to help with this problem. They trained the AI using over 36,000 images of patients' eyes taken with a special scanner. The AI looked at these images and other patient data to learn how to predict the disease's future course.

The AI's performance was very impressive. It was able to correctly sort patients into two groups from their very first visit: a low-risk group that didn't need immediate treatment, and a high-risk group that did. The AI was correct about two-thirds of the time. When the researchers added data from a second visit, the AI's accuracy jumped to 90%, meaning it was right nine out of ten times.

Patient Care

This new AI tool could change how doctors treat keratoconus. By using the AI to identify high-risk patients early, doctors could perform the preventative cross-linking treatment before vision gets worse. This would help patients avoid vision loss and the need for a major surgery like a corneal transplant.

For low-risk patients, the AI would prevent them from having to make unnecessary and frequent hospital visits, which would also free up doctors and hospital resources. The researchers are now working on making the AI even better, with the goal of using it to help with other eye problems as well, such as infections and inherited diseases.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging British tourists to take one simple step to prevent their autumn holiday from being "ruined" by illness. Amid a potential rise in infections this year, the agency is advising travelers to make sure they are protected against measles before heading abroad.

What is Measles?

Measles is a very contagious illness that can make you feel quite sick. It's caused by a virus and can be serious, sometimes leading to dangerous problems like brain swelling or pneumonia. The best way to protect yourself and others is to get the measles vaccine. The first signs of measles can feel like a bad cold or flu. You might have:

• High fever
• A cough
• Runny nose
• Red or watery eyes
• Tirednes
• Sore throat and muscle pain

Are Measles Cases Rising Globally?

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can cause a fever, a cough, red eyes, and a rash. It can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that measles cases in Europe have reached a 25-year high, with over 127,000 cases reported last year. More than half of these cases required hospitalization, and there were 38 recorded deaths.

The UKHSA issued a message on social media platform X, stating, "Planning an autumn or winter getaway? Don't let measles ruin your holiday. Two doses of the #MMR vaccine give you full protection, and you can catch up at your GP practice if you've missed any."

Why Vaccination Is Key For Measles

Getting vaccinated against measles is a critical step in staying healthy. Measles isn't just a simple rash; it's a serious illness that can lead to severe, life-threatening problems like pneumonia (a lung infection), meningitis (brain inflammation), and even blindness.

The good news is that the MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles, as well as mumps and rubella. In the UK, all children are offered this vaccine, and two doses can give you protection for life. If you're not sure if you or your child has had the vaccine, you can contact your local doctor's office (GP surgery), which can provide it for free. Health experts emphasize that when more people are vaccinated, it protects everyone, especially those who can't get the vaccine themselves.

What Measles Looks Like: How To Identify Measles?

According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention, a measles rash is a key sign of the illness, and it has a very specific pattern. It usually begins as flat, red spots on your face near the hairline. Over the next few days, it will spread downwards to cover your neck, body, arms, and legs.

Facial Rash: The rash often appears as small, red, raised spots on the forehead and cheeks. It might look different depending on a person's skin tone. as small, red, raised spots. It can look different on various skin tones.

Body Rash: The rash won't stay on your face; it will spread across your entire body.

Other Symptoms: The rash is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as a runny nose, watery eyes, and a cough.

Healing: As you start to recover, the rash will fade, and your skin may begin to peel or flake off.

Koplik spots: One of the earliest signs of measles is tiny white spots with a bluish center that show up inside the mouth. These are called Koplik spots and often appear a few days before the main rash.