Mayonnaise has long had a reputation for being one of those foods that can quickly become dangerous when left out of the refrigerator. At picnics, barbecues, and family gatherings, someone will often warn you not to eat the potato salad if it has been sitting on the table for too long. But is mayonnaise itself really the problem?
The answer is more complicated than many people realize. The concern often comes from how mayonnaise is used, handled, and stored rather than the condiment alone. When mixed into dishes such as chicken salad, potato salad, or coleslaw, other ingredients can introduce bacteria, while warm temperatures create conditions that allow those bacteria to multiply. Cross-contamination from dirty utensils can also increase the risk. So before blaming the mayonnaise for every spoiled summer salad, it helps to understand what actually makes these foods unsafe. Continue below…
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