Food Poisoning
December 31, 2008
Not everything that looks good to the eye may be good to eat. Some foods may have great looks but even these can cause food poisoning.
The problem
Not everyone is aware what food poisoning is exactly. When we eat contaminated food then it causes food poisoning. Human-unfriendly bacteria, parasites or viruses, any of which will send us straight to the ER, can contaminate the food.
Root of the problem
Food can become contaminated in various ways. If the most common is by coming in contact with harmful bacteria or other contaminated food. Also fruits and vegetables can become contaminated if they are grown or washed in water contaminated by tainted animal or human sewage.
Potential foods causing this problem are any raw or undercooked meat, poultry or fish, untreated water, milk or mayonnaise stored past its expiry date.
Bacteria poisoning
This is the most common cause of food poisoning, caused by bacteria living in the intestine of healthy animals.
One of such bacteria is Salmonella, which lives in the intestines of birds and animals. It spreads through raw or undercooked beef, poultry, fish or fowl, eggs, unpasteurized milk and eggnog and food that has been exposed to infected food. You will experience diarrhoea, fever, nausea and abdominal cramps six to 48 hours after consuming such food. However, after four or seven days you are sure to recover fully.
E coli bacteria live in the intestine and faeces of healthy cows. It spreads through raw ground beef, raw milk, unpasteurized apple juice or cider, contaminated water, uncooked fruits and vegetables and contact with the infected person either skin contact or through sneeze and cough. Symptoms show after about seven days after infection. Most often you get well on your own, however, sometimes you can develop a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which may cause anaemia and kidney failure.
Clostridium botulinum is a rare spore forming bacteria. The spores produce a toxin in an oxygen-free and low acid environment. When foods like green beans, mushrooms, spinach, olives, beef or fish are improperly canned or when foil wrapped and vacuum-packed foods are kept at room temperatures for long, this can develop.
You start showing symptoms between 12 to 36 hours after eating bad food. This attacks the nervous system and you experience blurred vision, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, paralysis. It is important that you see your doctor immediately.
Campylobacter jejuni is the most common cause of diarrhoea. It is spread by eating undercooked chicken, untreated water, unpasteurized milk, or shellfish. You can expect to experience bloody diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, fever and headache after 2-5 days of consumption. It will clear up after one to ten days.
The Listeria monocytogenes bacteria are a bad kind, which can even cause meningitis and blood poisoning. Soft mold-ripened cheeses, unpasteurized milk, raw meat, and vegetables are possible sources.
Parasitic poisoning mostly shows no symptoms because the body deals with it on its own.
The cure
You can prevent food poisoning by taking some simple precautions.
You should maintain adequate cleanliness of your body.
Keep raw foods separate from cooked foods.
Maintain the temperatures of foods, hot foods are to be kept hot and cold foods cold.
Cook food well, do not leave it raw.
Prefer plastic and marble cutting boards over wooden ones.
Use different knives for raw meat.
Enjoy
You can easily stay away from food poisoning so do not become frightened and enjoy your food.
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