Is your fast food making you sick? As Chipotle admits another case of norovirus, an ER doctor explains how to avoid food poisoning in your takeout

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You might think you're being healthy by ordering a salad instead of a burger at your favorite fast food restaurant. 
But in reality, you might be doing yourself more harm than good. 
Chipotle, the popular Mexican fast food chain, has come under fire lately for the way they handle their produce. On Monday the company was forced to close a franchise in Sterling, Virginia due to an outbreak of norovirus.
Symptoms of norovirus include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and infected about 60 people who ate at the restaurant.
Chipotle had been working to rebuild its reputation after a series of health scares, including an E-coli scare in 2015. The company even has new food handling policies to prevent further incidences. 
Dr Sunil Sood, a pediatrician at Northwell Health in New York spoke to Daily Mail Online about how to avoid food born infections if you are eating out at a fast food restaurant. 
He explained that while outbreaks can't always be prevented, there are things you can do to be sure that your food is being prepared in the safest way possible.  
Chipotle, the popular Mexican fast food chain has come under fire lately for the way they handle their produce. On Monday the company was forced to close a franchise in Sterling, Virginia due to an outbreak of norovirus
Chipotle, the popular Mexican fast food chain has come under fire lately for the way they handle their produce. On Monday the company was forced to close a franchise in Sterling, Virginia due to an outbreak of norovirus
1. REALLY LOOK AT THE FACILITY YOU ARE HEADED TO FOR DINNER 
Dr Sood explained that you want to make sure you're headed somewhere with a good reputation, and with a high rating. 
'In New York City, specifically, I wouldn't go somewhere with lower than an A rating,' he explained. 
'If it has a lower rating, there is some sort of standard it did not pass, and that is a cause for concern and means you could get sick.' 
2. AVOID SALADS, UNCOOKED VEGETABLES, AND UNDER-COOKED FOODS 

WHAT IS NOROVIRUS?  

Norovirus' is the collective name given to a highly contagious group of viruses.
Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, particularly during the winter months.
Indeed, norovirus is sometimes called 'winter vomiting bug', as outbreaks peak from October to March. 
People might think they are being healthier by getting a salad or eating a lot of vegetables, Dr Sood said. 
But in reality, they're just making themselves more prone to catching a bug. 
Dr Sood said a lot of times fresh produce comes straight from farms or are shipped in from neighboring countries and aren't washed as thoroughly as they need to be before being served. 
'It's a much safer bet when you're eating meat or something that will be served to you piping hot,' he explained. 
3. MAKE SURE YOU CAN WATCH YOUR FOOD BEING MADE 
Dr Sood explained how it's incredibly important that you watch your food being made so you can be sure that people are either wearing gloves or wash their hands immediately before serving you, if not both. 
'Making sure you watch your food being made is really one of the most important tips I can give,' Dr Sood said. 
'If they aren't wearing gloves and it doesn't look like it's being made in a sanitary way, you shouldn't eat it.' 
Dr Sood also said this particularly important for pregnant women, children, and people with a weakened immune system, because they are at such a higher risk of  getting sick.  

5. GET A HEPATITIS A VACCINATION
Hepatitis A causes a kidney virus, and is passed by food and water, Dr Sood said. 
'Nowadays, babies get vaccinated once they've hit a certain age, but even 14 or 15 years ago that was not the case,' he said. 
'If the person who is making your food, or the food itself, has come in contact recently with the Hepatitis A virus, you're at a risk of catching it.' 
He also explained that it's a tricky virus, because if you don't know the symptoms, you won't know you have it.
'It doesn't make you sick or give you diarrhea, it's a kidney infection, so sometimes symptoms don't show up for a long time and you could pass it onto other people,' he explained.  
6. IF YOU DO GET SICK, GO TO YOUR DOCTOR AND URGE THEM TO CONTACT THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT 
If you end up getting sick, Dr Sood said the first thing you should do is go to your doctor. 
'Firstly because if you don't start taking medicine quickly you will become dehydrated, which could make your symptoms worse or could even kill you,' he explained. 
However, he also said that if a doctor sees more than one instance of the same disease in a short period of time, they are supposed to tell the local health department. 
'Doctors don't always follow that rule though, so it's important to urge your doctor to contact the local health department if you feel it is necessary,' he said. 

You might think you're being healthy by ordering a salad instead of a burger at your favorite fast food restaurant. 
But in reality, you might be doing yourself more harm than good. 
Chipotle, the popular Mexican fast food chain, has come under fire lately for the way they handle their produce. On Monday the company was forced to close a franchise in Sterling, Virginia due to an outbreak of norovirus.
Symptoms of norovirus include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and infected about 60 people who ate at the restaurant.
Chipotle had been working to rebuild its reputation after a series of health scares, including an E-coli scare in 2015. The company even has new food handling policies to prevent further incidences. 
Dr Sunil Sood, a pediatrician at Northwell Health in New York spoke to Daily Mail Online about how to avoid food born infections if you are eating out at a fast food restaurant. 
He explained that while outbreaks can't always be prevented, there are things you can do to be sure that your food is being prepared in the safest way possible.  
Chipotle, the popular Mexican fast food chain has come under fire lately for the way they handle their produce. On Monday the company was forced to close a franchise in Sterling, Virginia due to an outbreak of norovirus
Chipotle, the popular Mexican fast food chain has come under fire lately for the way they handle their produce. On Monday the company was forced to close a franchise in Sterling, Virginia due to an outbreak of norovirus
1. REALLY LOOK AT THE FACILITY YOU ARE HEADED TO FOR DINNER 
Dr Sood explained that you want to make sure you're headed somewhere with a good reputation, and with a high rating. 
'In New York City, specifically, I wouldn't go somewhere with lower than an A rating,' he explained. 
'If it has a lower rating, there is some sort of standard it did not pass, and that is a cause for concern and means you could get sick.' 
2. AVOID SALADS, UNCOOKED VEGETABLES, AND UNDER-COOKED FOODS 

WHAT IS NOROVIRUS?  

Norovirus' is the collective name given to a highly contagious group of viruses.
Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, particularly during the winter months.
Indeed, norovirus is sometimes called 'winter vomiting bug', as outbreaks peak from October to March. 
People might think they are being healthier by getting a salad or eating a lot of vegetables, Dr Sood said. 
But in reality, they're just making themselves more prone to catching a bug. 
Dr Sood said a lot of times fresh produce comes straight from farms or are shipped in from neighboring countries and aren't washed as thoroughly as they need to be before being served. 
'It's a much safer bet when you're eating meat or something that will be served to you piping hot,' he explained. 
3. MAKE SURE YOU CAN WATCH YOUR FOOD BEING MADE 
Dr Sood explained how it's incredibly important that you watch your food being made so you can be sure that people are either wearing gloves or wash their hands immediately before serving you, if not both. 
'Making sure you watch your food being made is really one of the most important tips I can give,' Dr Sood said. 
'If they aren't wearing gloves and it doesn't look like it's being made in a sanitary way, you shouldn't eat it.' 
Dr Sood also said this particularly important for pregnant women, children, and people with a weakened immune system, because they are at such a higher risk of  getting sick.  

5. GET A HEPATITIS A VACCINATION
Hepatitis A causes a kidney virus, and is passed by food and water, Dr Sood said. 
'Nowadays, babies get vaccinated once they've hit a certain age, but even 14 or 15 years ago that was not the case,' he said. 
'If the person who is making your food, or the food itself, has come in contact recently with the Hepatitis A virus, you're at a risk of catching it.' 
He also explained that it's a tricky virus, because if you don't know the symptoms, you won't know you have it.
'It doesn't make you sick or give you diarrhea, it's a kidney infection, so sometimes symptoms don't show up for a long time and you could pass it onto other people,' he explained.  
6. IF YOU DO GET SICK, GO TO YOUR DOCTOR AND URGE THEM TO CONTACT THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT 
If you end up getting sick, Dr Sood said the first thing you should do is go to your doctor. 
'Firstly because if you don't start taking medicine quickly you will become dehydrated, which could make your symptoms worse or could even kill you,' he explained. 
However, he also said that if a doctor sees more than one instance of the same disease in a short period of time, they are supposed to tell the local health department. 
'Doctors don't always follow that rule though, so it's important to urge your doctor to contact the local health department if you feel it is necessary,' he said. 

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