Related concepts:

Solanine poisoning, Scombroid fish poisoning, Shellfish poisoning, Fish poisoning, Mushroom poisoning

Introduction to food poisoning:

Eating is one of the great delights in life, but sometimes the food we eat makes us sick.

What is food poisoning?

Food can make us sick if it contains either dangerous organisms or toxins. Often the toxic food looks, smells, and tastes okay. You might suspect food poisoning if several people who have eaten the same thing develop similar symptoms, or if a child gets sick without being exposed to anyone else who is sick.

Common bacteria that cause food poisoning include Botulism, Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, Salmonella, and Staph.

Norwalk virus is the most common virus that causes food poisoning.

Parasites in food can also cause infections, such as toxoplasmosis. People are more likely to get toxoplasmosis from contaminated food than from changing a litter box.

Toxin-caused food poisonings may be from mushrooms, solanine poisoning, or fish or shellfish poisoning.

Who gets food poisoning?

The type of food poisoning and who is most likely to get sick depends on the bacteria or toxin:

• Botulism. Most often found in improperly canned foods or foods in dented cans, especially corn, green beans, and peas. It can also be found in improperly stored or heated restaurant foods. Infant botulism can be caused by spores in honey.
• Campylobacter. Found in the stool of poultry, other birds, and other farm animals. Children get it easily from eating improperly cooked poultry or drinking unpasteurized milk.
• Clostridium. Found in the stool of humans and other animals. Children most often get it when food handlers have not washed their hands properly, and the food is left out for awhile, as on a steam table. I call it “cafeteria cramps.”
• E. coli. Another organism found in the stool of humans and other animals. It can be spread by improper food handling. Severe cases are often caused by eating undercooked ground beef or drinking unpasteurized milk or apple juice. Eating unwashed fruit or vegetables can also cause illness.
• Salmonella. Commonly found in eggs, poultry, and other meat. Children can get salmonella easily from eating raw or undercooked eggs, undercooked poultry or meat, or drinking unpasteurized milk. Improper food handling is another common cause of salmonella – for example, putting cooked poultry back on the same plate where it had been when raw.
• Staph. This organism is a common cause of skin infections, from impetigo to pimples to boils. This can get in the food during improper food handling. Warm food (100 degrees) is the ideal place for the bacteria to grow and produce a toxin. The toxin is not destroyed by cooking.
• Mushrooms. Seven different classes of toxins are found in a variety of different types of wild mushrooms. Some are lethal.
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