Contaminated Food

Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness, is a common and potentially serious health issue caused by consuming contaminated food. It occurs when you ingest food that contains harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemicals, leading to various symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe illness. The onset of symptoms can occur within hours or even days after consuming contaminated food.

Common causes of food poisoning include:

1. Bacteria: Certain bacteria, such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Campylobacter, and Listeria, are often responsible for food poisoning. These bacteria can multiply rapidly in food if it's not handled, cooked, or stored properly.

2. Viruses: Viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A can also cause food poisoning. These viruses are highly contagious and can spread through contaminated food, water, or surfaces.

3. Parasites: Parasites like Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Toxoplasma can be transmitted through undercooked or contaminated meat, fruits, vegetables, or water.

4. Toxins: Certain foods can produce toxins when they're mishandled or stored incorrectly. For example, botulism toxin can develop in improperly canned foods.

Common symptoms of food poisoning include:

- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue

In most cases, food poisoning resolves on its own within a few days. However, severe cases can lead to dehydration, especially due to the loss of fluids through vomiting and diarrhea. It's important to stay hydrated and seek medical attention if you experience severe symptoms, including:

- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- High fever
- Blood in stool
- Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, excessive thirst, dark yellow urine, dizziness)
- Symptoms in vulnerable populations (young children, elderly, pregnant individuals, immunocompromised individuals)

To prevent food poisoning, follow these guidelines:

1. Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food, after using the bathroom, and after touching raw meat, poultry, or seafood.

2. Cook food thoroughly: Make sure to cook meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs to the recommended internal temperatures to kill harmful bacteria.

3. Keep raw foods separate: Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meats and vegetables to prevent cross-contamination.

4. Refrigerate promptly: Keep perishable foods in the refrigerator at temperatures below 40°F (4.4°C) to slow the growth of bacteria.

5. Avoid unpasteurized foods: Avoid consuming raw or unpasteurized milk, cheeses, and other dairy products, as they can carry harmful bacteria.

6. Be cautious with leftovers: Refrigerate leftovers promptly and reheat them to a safe temperature before consuming.

7. Wash fruits and vegetables: Thoroughly rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating.

By following these guidelines and practicing proper food safety measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of contracting food poisoning.

[thelastboyscott]

Isnt it a great feeling when the severe stomach pains goes away little by little.

[natiqulhaqqadri]

A few days ago I ate some unhealthy foods from the grocery store. I ate a pack of chips which tasted off and some really weird carbonated drink. I woke up really early in the morning, and had gas in my stomach which hurt so much and kept on burping. The burps tasted like rotten eggs. 20 minutes after waking up, I started vomiting and was really dizzy. I went to the bathroom several times and I noticed I had watery diarrhea. It was by far the worst food poisoning I've ever had in my life. I don't eat industrial foods anymore that are packaged

[AD-rgyc]

Sitting on the toilet at 2am constipated and vomiting for the fifth time praying something comes out the other way end instead

[angelaaguilera]

I ate undercooked chicken by accident and went to the doctors office and they want me to take a covid test 😪

[blessedlife]

I used to be scared of puking but now I’m like please let me puke. This is so terrible. I want to sleep but here I’m up for an hour with cold sweats and a feeling like I know I may puke. God please help me. Hope if you’re going through this that you feel better asap. Not fun.

[YawninHaze]

One day I was eating some homemade chicken soup and there were these small potatoes in it. After having eaten a few already I bit into another and it tasted oddly sour...like a sharp, bitter kind of sour. I assumed it was from the lemon I squeezed over it and decided to eat the rest of it. Suddenly the sourness got worse and my stomach began to ache like hell. I quickly felt very ill, weak, and hot and had the runs not even 15 minutes after I swallowed that rancid thing. 🤢 I'm super cautious with potatoes now.

[Internetguy_L_D]

Was eating at the local pizzeria and after eating i felt a little pain in my stomach but i ignored it and later went to bed slept for about 2 hours and i woke up with the worst stomach pain ever and once i went up i needed to go to the bathroom and i sat there with cold sweats and feeling faint and shaking like a leaf with just enough strength to keep me seated on the toilet, after everything left my system i felt better. But still have an unruly stomach.

[jeremyking]

I ate fast food last night, chicken sandwich with fries and a sweet tea. 15 minutes after eating my stomach was in knots. Then an hour later the vomiting started. It didn’t stop until everything was out of my stomach, about 2 hours. Shortly after the watery diarrhea started. Every hour on the hour, for 12 hours now. I’m slowly drinking water, maybe later I’ll try and eat something.

[minimerzzz]

First time i have food poisoning, feel like im about do die😫

[reallife]

I brought food to work and left it in my car but it was cold. When I finally ate it about 6 hours later it was warm almost hot from the sun. It was home made Salisbury steaks. I've been dry heaving and feeling terrible nausea ever since. Uncontrollable dry heaving. Diarrhea 1 time. I'm sure more are on the way.

[TheBuffaloFlats]

I bought some cheesesteaks for some friends and I. Everybody ate except for me. I left the cheesesteak out for around 7 hours. I then microwaved it and ate it… I’m laying in my bed with stomach cramps and have been puking out that same cheesesteak. I normally have always let food sit out and never had an issue, I learned my lesson

[proto-guest]

Back in November (2022) got food poisoning from a Marshmallow. My body felt weak and felt like I was going to die. It also gave me werid dreams.

[OdinTheGiant]

My wife went out of town I cooked chicken on Wednesday and here it is next week Wednesday and I tried to eat it to save money...I hate wasting food...but now I learned my lesson that chicken cost me a day of work unpaid....so yeah it would have been cheaper and less painful to just throw it away...

[nikkielevated]

I made chicken tenders for me and my 3 year old. They’re the Tyson brand that goes in the oven. We ate them at 1:15 PM (my 3 year old only had a couple bites) then we went to an appointment. When I got home at 2:30 I was washing my hands and my stomach started cramping so bad. I went to the restroom and immediately began to sweat, had chills, and felt so weak while having diarrhea. I could barely hold myself up on the toilet. I almost fell over to the floor before wiping because of how weak I was, then all of a sudden after about 10-15 minutes it completely stopped and I felt normal. I have no clue what that was because everything says that food poisoning and stomach bugs last days but this was over in minutes but I was dripping in sweat and felt so cold. I was scared so here I am trying to figure out what it was. My 3 year old is fine. I will say this though, I drink nearly a gallon of water per day ( 6 16.9 FL OZ bottles of water to be exact) and that’s ALL I drink. No juice, soda, alcohol or anything else. Just water. Seems like being hydrated got whatever that was out quickly🙏🏽

[lovelycat]

Three culprits: possibly a Pina colada beer, gross pre packaged matcha mochis, and a daifuku that tasted slightly unusual than normal. I was staying up all night, so slowly I started burning up and having stomach pains. Couldn't tell if I needed to poop or throw up. When my body finally let me puke I felt better luckily.

[MotoRacerTV]

I just bought a sweet bread this afternoon. After an hour i go to the toilet. And when i got home from work, i go to the toilet again this 11:30 pm. After that my stomach has too much pain. I feel like im dying and need to go to the hospital. Thanks God the pain is slowly gone now.

[omegashinobi]

Yesterday when eating at a restaurant, one of the eggs I ate was still runny and liquidity. I didn't think much of it at the time, but i already felt that i should have theown it away when i had the chance. I only have a slightly upset stomach right now, but today i went and bought a bunch of home made remedies to orepare for the worst.

[Liyaxs]

It felt like I was dying after one slice of pizza ..within 15 -30 mins. I was in the bathroom in pain, cat was crying scratching at the door 😂 she thought I was dying too. Glad thats over, never again. Back to simple homemade meals, low carb, whole foods. I have gerd as well and was painfully reminded i cant have a cheat day. 😅

[MorbidGames]

Damn i had salmonella as a kid once that was hell. But i just got struck with the vomiting one. Really don't know which is worse. This time it got way messier.

[freya]

I ate bad butter.. 🥺
Now I have the waterfalls and feel extremely weak. Don’t eat old butter folks! It hurts soo bad.