Why does unrefrigerated potato salad make you sick?

Potato salad is a dish that is typically made with cooked potatoes, mayonnaise, and other ingredients such as celery, onion, and hard-boiled eggs. If potato salad is left unrefrigerated for too long, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause food poisoning.

Bacteria that can cause food poisoning in potato salad include Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and E. coli. These bacteria can grow rapidly at room temperature, and they can produce toxins that can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In some cases, food poisoning can even be fatal.

To avoid food poisoning, it is important to refrigerate potato salad as soon as possible after it is made. Potato salad should be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. It is also important to ensure that potato salad is covered properly to prevent contamination from other food items.

Here are some tips for preventing food poisoning when making potato salad:

* Use fresh ingredients that have been properly washed and cooked.

* Do not leave potato salad unrefrigerated for more than two hours.

* If potato salad is going to be stored for longer than two hours, it should be placed in the refrigerator.

* Cover potato salad properly to prevent contamination from other food items.

* When serving potato salad, use clean serving utensils.

* If you are unsure whether potato salad is safe to eat, it is best to discard it.