One must relish the enchant of eating outside, but at the same time beau fait about the food we eat. You are what you eat, So don’t be fast, Careless, Easy or Fake. Also, sometimes Food seems like an answer to everything. Has anyone ever said no to delicious Foods? But what if your food turns as a disastrous rival? Yes, Food Poison occurs. What is Food Poisoning? Food intoxication might sometimes happen if we evade hygiene and go with the words of our Taste buds. It is that case where we listen to the Word Food Poisoning. In this condition, the Food we eat contains bacteria and other illness-causing agents. It happens mainly due to our urge to the Restaurant Foods and Roadside Foods.
A global data shows that almost 1 in 10 people falls sick due to food poisoning. It is just because of the unsanitary preparation of Outside foods. Because of these reasons, we face many types of Food Poisons. Know about Food Poisoning Bacteria, Food Poisoning Facts.
Causes of Food Poisoning
Food poisoning as absurd it may sound, but occurs very commonly. It majorly occurs by eating food which is already undergoing contamination. The contaminants can be bacteria, viruses, chemicals and in a few cases toxic metals. These involve cadmium or lead. Though most of the food poisoning cases are results of bacteria, some may also occur due to Food Allergy.
- The contaminated food which has bacteria in it doesn’t necessarily taste bad. Most of the time they feel just as healthy as every other food.
- Contamination occurs due to storage types, and it causes frequent food poisoning.
- Staphylococcus infection occurs more often than the disease caused by Clostridium.
- We cook all types of foods at their ideal Temperatures with necessary ingredients and time.
- Some foods need to cook for few more minutes or less to make them ready in a proper Style.
- Raw food harbors bacteria. Some of these food causes Food poisoning. So, we should carefully store or refrigerate them. It includes chicken, meat products, ham, salami, eggs, milk and dairy products.
The four most common Food Poisoning causes are
1. Staphylococcus
The most common source of the food poisoning. We can find these bacteria in sores, infected eyes, and nose. Also, they are found in throat, saliva, skin and even in the bowel system of humans. The slim yellow substance that a person coughs up when he or she has a cold or throat infections contains Staphylococcus. Staphylococcus do not cause the illness, but as soon as they come into contact with food, they start to grow and multiply.
Feeding on that food the bacteria releases the toxin, which is responsible for the illness. These toxins can’t be utterly destroyed by cooking the food. Symptoms will start appearing within 8 hours of eating the contaminated food.
2. Salmonella
Mostly everyone knows the term salmonella. It has got more than 2000 types of it. Mostly associated with the animal product such as chicken, eggs, and milk but raw vegetables and water are also known as a carrier of it.People can get infected when:
- There are poor practices of food handling. Be it in your home or some joints or outlets.
- The source of the seafood is also one of the major factors. Seafood caught in polluted water harbors the bacteria. Eggs with dirty shells are also the source of the contamination.
- Meat products and poultry is a large area to be kept clean. The food which gets contaminated in the process by poor standards of handling carries the bacteria to the outlet as well.
- Salmonella poisoning usually takes 48 hours to develop after food is eaten. It is fatal and can cause death in young, weak or senior citizens. People on medications should be careful when having such diets.
3. Clostridium
These are the bacteria which are found in soils and intestine of animals. It can be in cattle, poultry, fish or human’s intestine. Clostridium is very common in an environment, so it is important to know about the bacteria. Clostridium infection is quite common during handling of the food. It can be at home, or at the outlet or in the factory. Cooking and storage refrigeration temperature are the places where the infection sustains and transmits as well.
It starts showing its effect 12 hours after food has been eaten, but its effect is usually less severe than the other types.The food poisoning so caused by Clostridium is called botulism. It is due to a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. Death can occur in this case.
4. Campylobacter
Found in cattle’s, dogs, cats and poultry animals. The infections source for this bacteria lives in water and food. People can get infection from:
- The contaminated water and food particle ingestion. The undercooked chicken is the prime source of infection. The contaminated river water is also the source of infection.
- Contacting infected animals. In cases of puppies and kittens with diarrhea, campylobacter gets transmitted.
- Poor food handling like that of the same chopping board used, knives and plates used for the same raw vegetables and cooked chicken. That bacteria lead to diarrhea.
5. E.coli
Previously it was believed that the infection of E.coli is spread because of undercooked beef. Recent studies have revealed the germ contamination from other sources as well. Other sources could be of nuts, water or cookie dough to name a few and the list goes on.
6. Shigella
Meat is the one we blame for the transmission of food poisoning germs. But in the case of Shigella, it’s different. Shigella typically gets transmitted via vegetables.Transmission is often the result of bacterial transfer from person to person. The bacteria get transferred from person to person due to poor hygiene practices.Abdominal cramps and bloody stools are typical symptoms. Flies are also thought to be a part of the transmission process.
Home remedies to treat constipation
What are the Symptoms of Food Poisoning?
The general features to show off in a food poisoning case is nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Diarrhea may be bloody or not deadly. There are many other Food Poisoning Symptoms as well.After eating the contaminated food particle abdominal cramps, diarrhea and vomiting can start as early it is possible. It can set off within an hour in case of Staphylococcus infections or could be as late as ten days in the event of Campylobacter infections. Parasitic infections take a longer duration to generate any noticeable symptoms. Symptoms may last from a day long to month long, depending upon the type of the disease.
Talking about the poisonous mushrooms which cause food poisoning by releasing certain chemicals and toxins. Vomiting and diarrhea are as usual common symptoms. Apart from this sweating, dizziness, tearing eyes, excessive salivation also constitutes to the Food Poison symptoms. Mental confusion and stomach pain are also the primary symptoms. Other complications also include partial loss of speech, blurred vision and muscle weakness. The symptoms of botulism are more complicated ones like difficulty swallowing, dry mouth. Muscle paralysis from top to bottom along with vomiting is a severe and rare type of botulism case.
Other symptoms includes:
- Dehydration symptoms such as dry mouth, decreased urination, dizziness, and sunken eyes.
- A diarrhoeal condition in newborn or infants.
- Typical diarrhea. It will last for more than two days, and the situation becomes even worse. It also includes severe abdominal pain or vomiting.
- Fever may also come in the scene. A temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit is expected to show up. Rectal temperature of 100.2 is supposed to be there for a baby of 3 months of age.
- Stools of different colors. It may be black, tarry or bloody.
Chemical or toxic related food poisoning have some other symptoms to show up. Usually sweating, dizziness and tears in eyes provide enough symptoms of chemical food poisoning.
Prevention of Food Poisoning (The Dos and the Don’ts)
At home, one can prevent food poisoning by inculcating simple habits:
What to Do?
- Washing hands, food surfaces and utensils often. For the hand part, we should wash thoroughly with warm or soapy water before and after handling or preparing food.
- To clean the utensils, use hot and soapy water. Clean the Cutting boards and other surfaces after preparing the food with warm, soapy water.
- Separation of foods- Keeping the raw food separate from the cooked food or ready to eat food. While you are shopping, preparing or Storing foods, make sure that no raw meat or other Non-veggies with other food products. It will prevent the cross contamination.
- Safe Temperature Method – Use Safe temperature cooking method. We can check the food temperature by using a Food Thermometer.
- Most of the harmful organism get killed when food is cooked at the right temperature. Like beef is cooked at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicken and turkey at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Refrigeration – Take care of perishable food articles and keep them in a refrigerator as soon as possible. If we forget within 2 hours of purchase or cooking, the food may spoil. If its summer than the food tends to go ugly faster than expectation, so refrigerate it within an hour if possible.
- Defrost with safety – Never let the food thaw at room temperature. The best way to thaw is to defrost in refrigerator only. If we keep the frozen food is oven, make sure to cook it immediately after defrosting.
- Throw it out – If the food they serve or prepare doesn’t smell right or ignites. Never taste the food that you are not sure.
There may exist a lot of Food Poisoning Medicines, but Preventing it may need No Food Poisoning Treatment. The Victim should consult a Doctor about a Medicine for Food Poisoning. Without consulting a doctor, don’t take any Medication.
What not to Do?
Food poisoning does potential damage to the life form. It is fatal in the case of young children, pregnant women, and their fetuses. Older adults are also prone to infection, and weaker immune system mass are also prone to food poisoning. These individuals should be taking extra precautions from the following:
- Raw and rare meat or poultry.
- Raw or undercooked products of fish, shellfish, oysters, etc.
- Cookie dough and undercooked egg and products.
- Raw sprouts such as alfalfa beans, clover, etc.
- The unpasteurized juices and ciders are also the source of food poisoning.
- Also, Pasteurize Milk and dairy products which involve Cheese too.
- Check the Canned pates and meat spreads before cooking and eating.
Management of Food Poisoning
Searching for How to cure Food Poisoning? or Cure for Food Poisoning or What to eat after Food Poisoning Conditions? or How to treat Food Poisoning?. Come, Let us explain the things which you have to do. The Person’s situation usually improves within 48 hours without any treatment. But to avoid dehydration and make ourselves more comfortable use this tips. These simple Food Poisoning Remedies will help you to avoid frequent Food Poison. No need of any Treatment for Food Poisoning, if we follow these tips.
- Let the stomach settle. It controls only by stopping the incoming of food and water for few hours. The stomach will automatically churn out the bad juices and settles itself.
- Sucking on ice chips and sipping water in small quantities will help.
- Non-caffeinated sports drink, clear sodas will also assist in alleviating the condition.
- When urine is back to its usual clarity, then the situation comes under control. If it is still in dark color, then you can keep sipping more, till you get the necessary results.
- Gradually start eating again, but start with low fat, easy to digest food. If the nausea returns, then stop eating.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and fatty foodstuff until the body returns to its normal state.
- Dehydration tires you up so rest is the first solution to it.
When to call a doctor:
If the symptoms continue for more than three days, then you should call a doctor. The following persisting symptoms are indicative of a physician’s call.
Symptoms
1) Severe belly pain.
2) Fever.
3) Diarrhea with blood in the stools and dark stools as well.
4) Bloody vomiting or if Vomitings Prolong.
5) Signs of dehydration are prominent such as dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness and increased heart rate.
The modern world’s palate is irresistible, and with all the affordable delicacies it is uncontrollable. Though the science has advanced a lot to be healthy is entirely one’s choice. You can always rely on the expertise of science to cure the Pain and stay healthy. If you can prevent the condition then why should we make it complicated? With the growing medicinal realms, the bacterial intensity is also growing. If one can ward off all those complications in advance, it will only add up to his or her health. We cannot trust the food outside the home arena because no one is sure of its source and viability. Most of the food poisoning cases which registers daily are due to Outside eatables. So, take care while you enjoy a meal outdoor. Make sure the place is hygienic, and the food they serve is of a good standard.