Unwashed fruits and vegetables can also become contaminated through soil, water, or handling. Unpasteurized milk, cheese, and other dairy products may carry microorganisms such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium, while contaminated water can spread several types of intestinal parasites.
The best protection is proper food preparation. Meat and seafood should be cooked thoroughly, produce should be washed under running water, and dairy products should be pasteurized. Clean drinking water is especially important when traveling or when water quality is uncertain.
Good kitchen hygiene also reduces the risk. Keep raw meat away from ready-to-eat foods, wash hands and utensils after handling raw ingredients, and avoid questionable raw foods. These simple habits can greatly reduce the chance of foodborne parasitic infections.
