Health & Life Magazine April 2017

FOOD & DIET
What is Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating a food that has
been contaminated. In most cases, the food is contaminated
by bacteria, such as salmonella or Escherichia coli (E. coli), or
a virus, such as the norovirus.
Symptoms can appear between a few hours to several days after eating
the contaminated food. These include:
Diarrhea and/or
vomiting
Nausea
Stomach pain
Chills
High
Temperature
Exhaustion
Aching muscles
In most cases, these symptoms pass in a few days and the majority of people
make a full recovery. Later on in this article we’ll share how to treat food
poisoning at home and help you recover quicker.
How is Food
Contaminated?
Food can become contaminated at any stage
during production, processing or cooking,
such as:
Not cooking food thoroughly (especially
meat and fish)
Not refrigerating foods that need to be
stored below 5°C
Leaving cooked food in warm temperatures
Not reheating previously cooked food for a
long enough time
Contamination from poor hygiene practices
Cross-contamination
The following foods are particularly
susceptible to contamination, and care
should be taken when handling, cooking
and storing them:
Raw eggs
Raw fish and shellfish
Raw meat and poultry
Milk and dairy products
“Ready-to-eat” foods (sliced meats, pâtés,
soft cheeses, pre-packed sandwiches and
wraps, dairy desserts…)
Which Bacteria Cause Food Poisoning?
Food contamination is usually caused by bacteria, but it can also sometimes
be caused by viruses. Some of the main sources of contamination are:
Campylobacter
Campylobacter
bacteria are the
most common
cause of food
poisoning, and
are usually
found on raw or
undercooked
meat (especially
poultry),
unpasteurized
milk and
untreated water.
Salmonella
Salmonella
bacteria are
often found
in raw or
undercooked
meat, raw
eggs, milk, and
other dairy
products.
Listeria
Listeria bacteria
can be found
in a range of
chilled, “readyto-eat”
foods. It’s
important not to
consume these
foods after
their expiration
dates. Pregnant
women need to
be particularly
vigilant because
the listeria
infection
listeriosis can
cause birth
complications.
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli,
often known as E.
coli, are bacteria
found in the
digestive systems
of many animals,
including humans.
The majority
of E. coli food
poisoning cases
occur after eating
undercooked
beef (particularly
mince, burgers
and meatballs)
or drinking
unpasteurized
milk.
Viruses
The virus that
most commonly
causes diarrhea
and vomiting is
the norovirus.
It’s easily spread
from person to
person, through
contaminated
food or water.
Raw shellfish,
particularly
oysters, can also
be a source of
infection.
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HEALTH AND LIFE