Leaving food out in the sun can put you at risk for food-borne illness

The Methodist Hospital in HoustonMay 14 2010

Leaving food out in the sun too long can put a damper on your summer picnic.

Dr. Gulchin Ergun, a gastroenterologist with The Methodist Hospital in Houston, says because bacteria like warmth and food, leaving items containing dairy or mayonnaise like potato salad out, even for a few minutes, puts you are risk for contracting a food-borne illness. She says certain toxins get into foods that can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting. Although deli meats last longer in the heat because of the high salt content, it is recommended that you put all foods away right after you are done eating.

Ergun adds oysters are also a culprit. They can cause cholera, an infection of the small intestine that causes a large amount of watery diarrhea that can come on suddenly, if the oysters are not cooked at a very high temperature.