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What is giardia?
Giardiasis is a type of foodborne illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Giardia Lamblia or Giarda duodenalis (commonly known as "giardia"). It is most commonly found in developing countries that lack sanitation and water quality control.
What is botulism?
Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum toxin. The neurotoxin releases a poison that mainly attacks the body’s nerves which then leads to difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death.
What You Need To Know About Fruit and Food safety
Raw fruits and vegetables can carry harmful germs such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria that can cause illness. A large percentage of foodborne illnesses are caused by fruit and vegetables. Germs on the peel or skin may enter and contaminate the fruit, so even if you don't intend to eat the peel, always wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water before eating.
Food Safety Food Delivery
Are food delivery businesses ensuring food safety?
Maybe. For example, Iwaspoisoned.com has reports of customers nationwide reporting that food from delivery workers and restaurant partners have been responsible for making them sick, impacting their health, and creating unnecessary risks.
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Every year, an estimated 600 million people in the US are plagued by either hunger or food poisoning. In this article, we discuss the definition of cross contamination and list down the different types and what you can do to prevent it.
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Shigella is a bacteria that causes an intestinal infection in a person when ingested. This infection is commonly known as shigellosis. It is a problem everywhere, especially in developing countries, but is also prevalent in the US, with approximately 500,000 cases each year. Shigellosis is most commonly found in crowded places like schools, daycare centers, nursing homes, or any place with a lack of sanitation.
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Campylobacter infection is a type of food poisoning that affects about 1.5 million people yearly in the U.S. It's usually acquired by consuming contaminated water and foods - especially raw or undercooked poultry.
A campylobacter's main hosts are poultry and livestock. It lives inside the animal's digestive system and these animals can carry this bacteria with no symptoms and show no signs at all. Sometimes, a cow's udder comes into contact with infected cow manure or any other livestock feces, thereby causing an infection and contaminating the milk production of the cow. In other cases, the bacteria may reside in water and sewers.
Vibrio is a curved-rod-shaped bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It usually results from eating contaminated raw or undercooked seafood like shellfish.
When you acquire the illness, the onset of symptoms usually starts from 12-24 hours after consuming a contaminated dish. Symptoms may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, and chills.
A vibrio infection can last up to 2 to 3 days after symptoms start appearing. Sometimes, it lasts a little bit longer when the symptoms become severe and would therefore need the attention of a medical practitioner.
Read more...If you are among the few who get infected with E. coli O157:H7, you will likely recover from mild symptoms within a week but if you have persistent, severe, or bloody diarrhea, contact your doctor.
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As the world starts to lift restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, other common viruses will likely make a return as the general population returns to pre-pandemic activity and behavior. In the UK, for example, by July 2021 cases of norovirus are 72% higher than they were during the same period last year.
With COVID-19 still circulating, people may start to confuse norovirus with coronavirus and vice versa. This may present issues when it comes to diagnosis and treatment. Is it wise to obtain a test, for example? Are there certain home remedies that may be more effective for norovirus than COVID-19? How can you avoid falling ill in the first place?
To help put your mind at rest and make appropriate preparations to deal with these viruses, we’ve put together a handy guide to their primary similarities and differences.
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If you experience these symptoms within 12 hours after consuming anything from this list: raw eggs (including eggnog), uncooked meats (including ground beef), unpasteurized milk or juice products containing apple or pear juices; contact your doctor immediately!
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Many parasites can be transmitted via food. Protozoans including Cyclospora cayetanensis, Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Giardia intestinalis are common foodborne parasites in the U.S. Others include tapeworms Taenia spp and Diphyllobothrium spp., and roundworms such as Anisakis spp. and Trichinella spp. A number of these infectious organisms may also be spread via contaminated soil, water or contact with an infected person.
Of the many known seafood illnesses, Ciguatera Fish Poisoning is the most reported among travelers and occurs when people ingest ciguatoxins. All kinds of reef fish produce the toxin, the following species are most susceptible: red snapper, barracuda, moray eel, parrotfish, grouper, hogfish, kingfish, amberjack, sea bass, sturgeon fish, and coral trout.
Gastroenteritis refers to an infection of the gut and is known as food poisoning when caused by food contaminated with virus(e.g.norovirus), bacteria(e.g salmonella), and parasites(e.g Giardia). Gastroenteritis symptoms range in severity and can start within hours of eating contaminated food.
Scombroid poisoning can occur when consuming improperly preserved fish. The scombroid toxin has been reported in amberjack, bluefish, albacore, Australian salmon, herring, anchovy, mackerel, saury, herring, needlefish. Mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, sardine, wahoo, skipjack, and kahawai may also pass scombroid. The toxin acts as a histamine and is produced following the growth of bacteria in improperly stored fish.
Listeria food poisoning symptoms include fever, headache, and tiredness in mild cases, but severe infections can lead to death. Listeria is commonly linked to ready-to-eat foods but occurs in frozen foods as well. Listeria risk is minimized by pasteurization or thoroughly heating food to 165 degrees.
One of the most important organs in your body is your liver. Responsible for detoxification, your liver also helps in digestion and also allows you to store energy. When infected, your liver might be unable to carry out these functions. Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV).
If your stomach lining is inflamed, you may be diagnosed with Gastritis. This condition may be acute or chronic but can be treated using acid reducers like antacid, or antibacterial medication if the condition was triggered by bacteria. Chronic gastritis is less common, usually affecting 2 out of 10,000 individuals, while acute gastritis is most commonly reported with 8 cases in every 1,000 individuals.
Cryptosporidiosis is an infection by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite that may be transmitted by ingesting food, water, or feces containing the parasite. You may also become infected if you touch your mouth after using the toilet without properly washing your hands. People suffering from cryptosporidiosis often report watery diarrhea.
Inflamed colon (or large intestine) is also referred to as colitis. Colitis can be caused by food poisoning due to disease-causing organisms like Salmonella and Escherichia coli. The condition may also be a result of autoimmune reactions and a shortage of blood supply to the colon. Regardless of its cause, people suffering from colitis normally report symptoms including diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Norovirus infection usually begins with diarrhea and vomiting that are often mistaken for flu, and hence the infection being termed the stomach flu. Norovirus infection can become severe without prompt medical attention. The highly contagious virus can be spread via food, water, contaminated surfaces, and close contact with infected persons.
Physical contamination in food can be a real threat to eaters. Recalls for foreign contaminate can happen for everything from ground beef to cookie dough mix. Contamination can accidentally enter the food supply during manufacturing or when it is being prepared at restaurants and at home.
Food poisoning timeline
The food poisoning timeline can begin immediately, especially if it is a chemical contaminant. For bacterial, viral or parasitic agents that cause food poisoning the start of symptoms will vary from a few hours to a few weeks. The CDC provides the following table of some of the possible contaminants, when you might start to feel symptoms and common ways the organism is spread.
Report food poisoning at iwaspoisoned.com
If you have food poisoning report it to IWasPoisoned.com. Public health agencies throughout the United States subscribe, as do health officials in many other countries. Iwaspoisoned is a trusted site, and with the help of consumer reporting has detected many outbreaks in real time, preventing further harm as a result.
Food poisoning symptoms can depend on a lot of factors
Food poisoning symptoms may range from mild to severe and can differ significantly depending of the contaminant, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The most common symptoms of food poisoning are:
What is food poisoning...
It is illness caused by contaminated food or water. It is very common, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are 48 million cases every year in the US. It can be spread through contaminated food or water. It can often resolve within days. Infectious organisms or their toxins are common causes of food poisoning. Food poisoning symptoms may include cramping, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Food poisoning often resolves without treatment. Adequate hydration is an important part of treatment.
Help prevent further incidents of food poisoning.
Each year, millions of people get food poisoning and thousands die
To control nausea and vomiting be sure to avoid solid foods until the vomiting ends.
Taking slow, small sips of liquids can help avoid vomiting and dehydration.
How, when, and if you become ill after eating contaminated food will depend on the ‘bug’, but also the amount of exposure, your age, and your health. Food poisoning can be especially dangerous, and even life-threatening, for people with weakened immune systems.
How long does food poisoning last?
Foodborne diseases, in general, refer to more than 250 kinds of disease-causing germs. In the majority of people with mild to moderate symptoms of food poisoning (viral and bacterial), symptoms may resolve in about 24 to 48 hours and there is no additional medical treatment needed. But food poisoning can also take more than a few days or even weeks to resolve. Any signs of dehydration or blood to your stool for more than 72 hours should be evaluated medically. Seek medical help if you suspect something unusual about the symptoms you are experiencing.
Infectious organisms like bacteria, viruses and parasites are the most common causes of food poisoning.
Food poisoning is caused by eating contaminated food that is handled or cooked incorrectly before it reaches your plate.
Stay hydrated and replenish the fluids your body is losing to diarrhea or vomiting.
Properly restore electrolytes by drinking beverages like Pedialyte, Ceralyte, or Oralyte to prevent dehydration. Sports drinks like Gatorade should not be used because they do not restore the necessary balance.
If you're able to keep down fluids do, slowly introduce foods that are easy to digest like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast; commonly referred to as the ‘BRAT’ diet.
If you experience symptoms of food poisoning, such as diarrhea or vomiting, drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
You should seek medical attention from your doctor or healthcare provider if you have symptoms including any of the following:
Incorporating vegetables into your diet provides health benefits, especially when you select and prepare them in a safe manner. It is extremely important to add vegetables in your diet because it provides you with nutrients that help you avoid heart disease, stroke, and cancer. To some, eating vegetables help them lose weight.
However, some raw vegetables may have dangerous microorganisms. If food safety procedures are not followed, it can cause food poisoning or worse, viral infections -
Questions:
1. What inspired you to get into your profession?
When I was in college, during breaks I was performing asbestos abatement for a private company. I got paid a lot of money however it was grueling work. We would be toiling in our PPE sweating in 100+heat, in tight and dark spaces, using jackhammers, etc. Once in a while a guy would show up, spend maybe 5 minutes in the danger
zone, collect some samples and get back out. I noticed he wore a suit and drove a new BMW. I asked him what he did and he replied he was...
Millions of people get food poisoning every year, and thousands die. The annual economic cost is in the billions.
Food poisoning often improves without treatment in a few days. During that time you should drink fluids to prevent dehydration. Read more
