Food poisoning can affect one
person or a group of people who all ate the same food. It is more common after
eating at picnics, school cafeterias, large social functions, or restaurants.
When germs get into the food, it
is called contamination. This can happen in different ways:
- Meat or poultry can come into contact with bacteria from the intestines of an animal that is being processed.
- Water that is used during growing or shipping can contain animal or human waste.
- Food may be handled in an unsafe way during preparation in grocery stores, restaurants, or homes.
Food poisoning can occur after
eating or drinking:
- Any food prepared by someone who does not wash their hands properly
- Any food prepared using cooking utensils, cutting boards, and other tools that are not fully cleaned
- Dairy products or food containing mayonnaise (such as coleslaw or potato salad) that have been out of the refrigerator too long
- Frozen or refrigerated foods that are not stored at the proper temperature or are not reheated to the right temperature
- Raw fish or oysters
- Raw fruits or vegetables that have not been washed well
- Raw vegetables or fruit juices and dairy products (look for the word "pasteurized," which means the food has been treated to prevent contamination)
- Under cooked meats or eggs
- Water from a well or stream, or city or town water that has not been treated
Infants and elderly people are at
the greatest risk for food poisoning. You are also at higher risk if:
- You have a serious medical condition, such as kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, or HIV and/or AIDS.
- You have a weakened immune system.
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