Good weather and food poisoning often go hand in hand. Find out all about food poisoning. The source of possible food poisoning, the bacteria that can cause food poisoning and the symptoms. How can you prevent food poisoning and what can you do in case of food poisoning.
Many people have contracted food poisoning at some point in their lives. Precise numbers cannot be given, as many people do not go to the doctor with their complaints. Moreover, only laboratory research can reveal which bacteria you are infected with. However, by the time the result is known, the bacteria has often already disappeared from the body.
In this article you can read everything about food poisoning. The source of possible food poisoning, the bacteria that can cause food poisoning and of course all about the symptoms of food poisoning. With tips on how to prevent food poisoning and what to do in case of food poisoning.
Unfortunately, this article is based on my own experiences with food poisoning. Right, experiences (plural). Unfortunately I have had migraines for more than 25 years to be able to bear the pain to some extent, I have taken ibuprofen frequently for a while. My doctor said it couldn't hurt and I can honestly say it helped me a lot. This went well for months, until I noticed that my stomach started to hurt.
Not only did my stomach hurt, I was suddenly hypersensitive. Food that a fly had landed on? I had food poisoning… eating out of the fridge for too long? It didn't bother anyone but me. The nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, etc. were almost as bad as a migraine attack. I stopped taking ibuprofen immediately because it couldn't go on like this any longer. My stomach is unfortunately still very sensitive, but it has already gotten a lot better.
Bacteria are found in most foods. If food is not stored under the right conditions – cold products chilled and hot dishes boiling hot – these bacteria can multiply quickly, resulting in food poisoning. In particular, contaminated food that has been in a warm room for more than half an hour is a perfect source of bacteria. As a result, food poisoning occurs more often in nice and especially warm weather. So you have to be extra careful during the warm summer months and, for example, the barbecue.
Notorious sources that can quickly cause food poisoning are:
You have to be extra alert to this, especially during a stay in a (warm) (holiday) country.
You should actually avoid the consumption of raw eggs completely. Pregnant women, small children, the sick and the elderly should also avoid using soft-boiled eggs. Pâté and white cheese, such as brie and camembert, are also not suitable for pregnant women. This is because there is a chance that they will become infected with the bacteria listeria monocytogenes, which can cause abnormalities in the fetus.
Pregnant women, the elderly, small children, the chronically ill, and people whose immune systems are compromised (such as with cancer or AIDS) are most at risk of developing food poisoning. Especially for this group it is important to be extra careful with the following foods.
Eggs
Eggs are a notorious source of salmonella bacteria, a common cause of food poisoning. The symptoms include abdominal cramps and vomiting. The bacteria feel well at home in puddings and custards, salads and other dishes that contain raw or softened eggs. This is especially true when these dishes are not cooled properly.
To prevent food poisoning, you can take the following steps when using eggs:the salmonella bacteria can be destroyed by boiling an egg for 7 minutes, poaching it for 5 minutes or frying it for 3 minutes on both sides. Dishes that contain raw eggs (mousse, fresh/homemade ice cream, mayonnaise) should be avoided.
Poultry
Poultry is a source of salmonella and campylobacter bacteria, both of which can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms can last from one to five days. Chicken and turkey should be thawed completely in a cool area such as the refrigerator or basement. So not on the counter, where it is often too hot.
When roasting, the poultry must reach an internal temperature of at least 80°C. If the chicken and turkey meat is still pink or looks bloody, it is undercooked and should not be eaten. This is easy to check during cooking:pierce the meat and see if the meat juice is clear. If that is the case, then the poultry is cooked and ready for consumption.
To prevent food poisoning, poultry must be well-cooked, fried/cooked. Always wash your hands well after processing chicken and turkey (or after turning meatballs) to prevent bacteria from spreading.
Pork and beef
In addition to the salmonella bacteria, pork and beef can also contain other pathogens. Pork, in particular, should always be well cooked, as it can also be infected with a parasite that causes trichinosis. In this condition, hairworms settle in the muscles. The disease starts with stomach and intestinal disturbances and is later followed by fever, painful swelling and hardness of the affected muscles.
To avoid food poisoning, the temperature of the inner part of the pork must be at least 75°C during roasting. Steak tartare is delicious, but also risky, because it is made from raw beef. It may contain the salmonella bacteria E. coli and other pathogens. Eating raw/semi-cooked meat is out of the question if you want to avoid food poisoning.
Shell and shellfish
This group of foods in particular can cause severe symptoms of food poisoning. Think of shrimps, oysters and, for example, mussels. Most often, it is because the water in which these seafood lives is contaminated with sewage. Eating rotten oily fish such as mackerel, herring and tuna, especially in raw form such as in sushi, can lead to very serious food poisoning.
Symptoms of food poisoning after eating shellfish include:pungent, peppery, burning sensation in the mouth, diarrhea and vomiting, flushing, headache, and a crimson rash. To avoid food poisoning, be careful when buying seafood. Clean well after buying! And rather not eat raw fish or shellfish.
Other risky foods that can cause food poisoning
White mold cheese, unpasteurized dairy products, coleslaw, salad greens, refrigerated semi-cooked foods and pâtés may all contain listeria monocytogenes. The condition causes flu-like symptoms and, in more severe cases, meningitis. During pregnancy, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage or birth defects in the child.
To prevent this, especially if you are pregnant, you should rather not eat certain foods.
If you have symptoms of food poisoning, you should check to see if you have eaten anything suspicious. On the basis of this you can determine which bacteria is responsible for the food poisoning. If you develop a fever or if the symptoms persist for more than two days, consult your doctor. Do not under any circumstances go to the doctor yourself!
The length of time between eating spoiled food and the symptoms of food poisoning varies from a few minutes to several days. The main symptoms are nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes fever. In most cases, those symptoms are unpleasant but not dangerous.
An exception is botulism, a rare form of food poisoning that requires immediate treatment. Botulism is caused by the poison of clostridium botulinum. This is a bacteria that can occur in meat or meat products. The condition starts with general symptoms, after which muscle weakness and paralysis quickly occur.
Vomiting is a natural way to get rid of spoiled food, and in the case of food poisoning, encourage vomiting rather than prevent it. The faster the poison leaves the body, the better.
The greatest danger, however, is dehydration and mineral deficiency, especially in small children and the sick. It is very important to replenish the lost fluid as quickly as possible (moisture, sugar and salt). To do this, make a solution of sugar, glucose or honey in boiled water and add some salt to it. Drink this in small sips. Chamomile tea has a soothing effect on the stomach and is calming. ORS is a ready-to-use solvent that restores balance in the body.
The appetite is probably completely gone after a contracted food poisoning. As soon as you feel better, it is best to eat a banana to prevent excess stomach acid. A little fresh yogurt helps to stimulate the intestinal flora. Eat mild, easily digestible foods such as bananas (packed with energy), rice, apples, and toast for a day or three. Replace regular sugar with easily digestible grape sugar.
After the umpteenth food poisoning (this time it was starting and a mild form) I was sick of it. I started looking for a natural remedy to get rid of food poisoning faster. On the net I found some options and started working with them. Do you want to get rid of food poisoning quickly? Then use 1 drop of oregano essential oil. Note:always buy organic oil and mix it well, as it is very strong stuff.
By the way, I love using essential oil. I have written an article website about the use of essential oil. Highly recommended!
There are a number of things you can watch out for to reduce the risk of food poisoning. The following tips can help you with that:
– Remember that all foods contain bacteria. This means that all foods can be contaminated with bad bacteria
– Wash hands before cooking and during cooking. Are you working with raw meat or are you going to start another dish:wash your hands first
– Tape off cuts and scrapes
– Use a separate cutting board for raw meat, chicken and fish or clean the board well with boiling hot water or with fresh lemon
– Store raw and prepared products separately
– Check whether meat is well cooked
– Warm dishes well, but not more than once
– Do not keep dishes warm for too long, as bacteria can multiply quickly
– Change the kitchen textiles daily, especially the cloth on the counter
– Do not refreeze thawed food
– Pay particular attention to into the summer with flies:they can contaminate food with salmonella
– In warm countries extra care is needed with food
Prevention is better than cure!
Hopefully you now know (almost) everything about food poisoning. Have you ever had food poisoning? What was the cause and what did you do about it yourself? Let me know in the comments.
