Have you ever encountered a situation where you’ve consumed a dish that’s so good you had to resist the urge of wiping the plate clean with your tongue, only to feel queasy afterwards?
If your stomach can only talk, it’s probably not even talking—it’s screaming for help! It would be so distraught that it won’t even be able to finish a sentence (“Help. Food. Poisoned.”), let alone mouth off an interjection.
Well, you’re not alone. Roughly 1 in 6 Americans gets sick each year based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2011 data, which probably explains why people are not stranger to news of foodborne illness-related incidences. (I don’t think these foodborne illnesses have ever been off news headlines at all.)
That said, people should consider these reports a waking call especially if they take their personal health, and that of their loved ones, seriously. You wouldn’t want a family member to become the next victim of a possible foodborne illness-related outbreak.
How does a person get food poisoning?
Food poisoning isn’t limited to solid food alone. You can also get it from contaminated beverages. Lastly, you can also get food poisoning when an infected person handles your food and beverage.
Sometimes foodborne illness bacteria or viruses can be traced as far back to the farm or food production/packaging facility where your food came from. But there are also instances when the pathogens that cause foodborne illness originate in a kitchen facility, and get passed on to customers like you by food handlers, chefs and food workers.
I suspect that I may be sick from food poisoning. How do I know for sure?
You will be asked where you dined and what food you ate. Recalling the circumstances on how you probably got food poisoning and the symptoms you’re experiencing can help doctors figure out the kind of foodborne illness you contracted.
What are the symptoms associated with food poisoning?
The most common symptoms of food poisoning are:
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Abdominal Cramps or Pain
If you want to know more about the specific symptoms foodborne illnesses, then check out the following articles:
More news related to foodborne pathogens:
- A Guide to Foodborne Illnesses: Shigellosis
- Not Again! E.Coli Contamination Leads to Kansas Beef Product Recalls
- A Grocery-Shopping Wake-Up Call: Top 5 Tips for Preventing Foodborne Illnesses
- That Gut Feeling: The Stomach Flu and Food Safety
- 3 Celebrities Who Got Food Poisoning in 2012
- 5 Ways to Declare Your Independence From Food Poisoning
What should I do if I have the above symptoms?
Don’t panic. Go straight to a hospital. If you can’t do it alone, ask help from a family member or friends to drive you to a nearest hospital. On your way, recall the details of your suspected food poisoning.
The doctor will decide if you need antibiotics, symptom-relieving meds, or if you just need to rehydrated and get some rest.
How can food poisoning be prevented?
You can easily prevent food poisoning by following some of the tips elaborated in the article, The 9 Golden Rules of Food Safety; or just keep in mind the key food safety principles: clean, separate, cook and chill. Better safe than sorry.
Stay tuned for the latest news on Food Safety and Foodborne Pathogens here at Learn2Serve.
Do you have food safety tips that you want to share with us? Let us and our readers know in the comments section below!
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