Back to Food Poisoning

What is food poisoning?

Food poisoning refers to an illness that is caused by eating contaminated food, such as eating food that gives you salmonella.

What causes food poisoning?

Food can become contaminated by bacteria, viruses, environmental toxins, or toxins naturally occurring within the food itself.

The most common causes of food poisoning are:

• Salmonella (salmonellosis)
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7
• Campylobacter jejuni
• Shigella
• Clostridium botulinum bacteria.

E. coli, Campylobacter, and Shigella are most likely to cause a condition called traveler’s diarrhea. The bacteria are transferred to people through undercooking, contact of contaminated uncooked foods, and through poor hygiene of food handlers.

Salmonella is found in many foods, including the egg yolks, in raw and undercooked meats, fish, and dairy products. However, this type of bacteria is killed by thorough cooking.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria live in dust, air, and sewage and is spread when someone does not follow proper guidelines for sanitation, then handles food.

Clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic bacterium, which means it can only live where there is no oxygen. The most common source of botulism is home canned foods that have not been heated sufficiently before canning, or that have been heated at a heat that is too low.

Who can get food poisoning?

It is difficult to estimate the number of cases of food poisoning in the United States each year because many cases are mild and require no treatment. However, it is estimated that almost 76 million case of food poisoning occur each year. People who are most seriously affected by food poisoning are typically infants, the elderly, and those with a weak immune system. Also, people who travel to countries outside the U.S. are at a higher risk for getting food poisoning because of poor sanitation and contaminated water.

What are the typical symptoms of food poisoning?

Most types of food poisoning can cause all or some of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Dehydration
• Headaches
• Stiff neck

How is food poisoning diagnosed?

To diagnose food poisoning, a medical professional will examine you, study your symptoms, and ask about the foods you have eaten within the last few days. To confirm a diagnosis and determine which type of bacterium is causing your symptoms, your doctor will ask for a stool (bowel movement) sample, which will be tested in a laboratory and may also need to have blood tests.

Reference:

"Food Poisoning," Health and Disease Information, Penn State University.

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