Why You Should Avoid Bone-In Meat At Restaurants

For many Americans, there's something about going out to dinner that just feels right. Whether it is to spend a little time with the family, your significant other, or even to just take a break from cooking in the kitchen, a nice meal at a restaurant can leave you feeling not only full of food, but happiness. Plus, eating out also supports your local community and you can try new food (per Craigie Street Bistrot). Although eating out can be expensive, it's quite a common practice in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half (about 60%) of Americans dine out at least once a week. 

While the CDC notes that food portions have become bigger at restaurants, there is more to be concerned about than the size of your meal. Every year about 1 in 6 Americans contracts a foodborne illness from contaminated food or beverages (per CDC). Luckily, there are some dining tips to help you prevent getting sick from any contaminated food. And though they're often marketed as choicer cuts, here's why you should avoid bone-in meat at restaurants.

According to Teys, a fourth-generation meat processing company, undercooking cooking bone-in meat could leave you with raw meat near the bone. While you might be the type of person who does not mind a little bit of blood in your favorite bone-in cut of steak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that raw beef, chicken, pork, and turkey can contain bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, and yersinia. So if the idea of raw meat does not give you cause for concern, then the potential bacteria that could enter your system should. These contaminants can make you very sick — and in extreme cases, can be lethal.

Foodborne illness, or food poisoning, kills nearly 3,000 Americans every year (via Food Safety). Be on the lookout for common food poisoning symptoms like cramps, dehydration, diarrhea, fever, nausea, upset stomach, and vomiting. In short, coming down with a case of food poisoning is not a great way to end your night after dining out at a restaurant. 

Remember, while your favorite time of the week might be dining out, it is always a risk when you opt for bone-in meat at your meal. If you want to mitigate your risk of food poisoning, then it's best to skip the bone-in option and go for a clean cut of meat.