What causes Food Poisoning?
A lot of people hear food poisoning and think someone somewhere is after them, “Village People”. Food poisoning is basically a food borne illness resulting from eating a contaminated food. There is no day that gets by without a lot of people getting sick from contaminated food.
Common causes include bacteria and viruses. Less often, the cause may be a parasite or a harmful chemical, such as a high amount of pesticides. Symptoms of food borne illness depend on the cause. They can be mild or serious. The common symptoms include:
- Upset stomach
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Dehydration
Most food borne illnesses are acute. This means that they happen suddenly and last a short time. It takes several steps to get food from the farm to your dining table and guess what? Contamination can happen during any of these steps. For example, it can happen to
- Raw meat during slaughter,
- Fruits and vegetables when they are growing or when they are processed,
- Refrigerated foods when they are left on a loading dock in warm weather,
- But it can also happen in your kitchen if you leave food out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. Handling food safely can help prevent food borne illnesses.
Four Steps to Prevent Food Poisoning
- Clean
Wash your hands and work surfaces before, during, and after preparing food. Germs can survive in many places around your kitchen, including your hands, utensils, cutting boards, and counter-tops.
- Separate
Separate raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs from ready-to-eat foods. Use separate cutting boards and keep raw meat away from other foods in your shopping cart and refrigerator.
- Cook
Cook food to the right internal temperature to kill harmful bacteria.
- Chill
Keep your refrigerator 40°F or below. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking
Most people with food borne illness get better on their own. It is important to replace lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. We always advise against self medications, if you feel ill and not sure you can make it to the hospital, we can schedule an online consultation with a doctor or call 08090160175 to schedule an appointment
