What is a foodborne illness (FBI)?
Foodborne illness (also known as food poisoning) is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and/or chemicals. Such contaminations do not necessarily change the taste, look or smell of the food/water; and symptoms do not always appear immediately after you eat/drink the contaminated food.
Symptoms of foodborne illness can range from mild to severe. Severe/life threatening symptoms are more likely to occur in higher risk populations such as: the elderly, pregnant women, infants, and people with weakened immune systems. Therefore, it is important to ensure that safe food handling practices are in place to avoid illness.
Symptoms of foodborne illness
Symptoms of foodborne illness differ depending on the type of contamination that was consumed. Common symptoms of foodborne illness include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Headache
- Fever
What causes foodborne illness?
Foodborne illness can be caused due to improper food handling practices, such as:
- Poor hand washing practices and/or poor food handler hygiene
- Cross-contamination of raw and ready-to-eat foods through direct or indirect contact (i.e. utensils/food contact surfaces)
- Improper cooking and reheating of food items
- Improper cooling of hazardous food items
- Improper defrosting of food items
- Food being prepared by a sick food handler
Safe food handling practices can prevent foodborne illness.