No road trip is complete without the obligatory gas station stop (or even a few of them), and filling up the tank isn’t always the main event. While the endless snacks on the shelves of gas station convenience stores definitely look tempting, there are a few foods you should never buy from these shops.
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are not the healthiest food regardless of where you buy them, but the ones found at gas stations may be particularly risky, considering how they are stored. Hot foods need to be kept at 135-140°F to avoid bacteria growth, and hot food storage at gas stations is often subpar.
Nacho Cheese
In 2017, one person died and many more were hospitalized after eating contaminated nacho cheese sauce at a California gas station. While such terrible incidents are rare, it might be prudent to avoid nacho cheese at any gas station.
Slushies
Slurpees and slushies may have been the highlight of your childhood road trips, but this moment of nostalgia comes at a cost. Other than the fact these drinks are filled to the brim with sugar, Slurpee machines are said to harbor mold and illness-causing bacteria.
Sandwiches and Wraps
Many gas stations offer perishable foods like sandwiches and wraps. The problem is that they are often either not cooled adequately or kept sufficiently hot, which can expose whoever eats them to bacteria and viruses.
