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ARTICLE: Food Poisoning and Safe Food Handling
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What is food poisoning? Where is the bacteria found?
What are the main symptoms of food poisoning? What are
some less common symptoms?
Does food poisoning need medical attention? How long
does it typically last?
Quickly summarize the four most common ways that
harmful organisms are spread.
What happens to your body after you eat food that contains
harmful organisms?
Who is at most risk of becoming ill due to food poisoning?
What 4 things increase your risk?
Briefly list the 8 tips to help prevent food poisoning?
Where is botulism found? Why/how do the toxins spread?
For whom is toxoplasmosis most dangerous?
What is the most common type of food poisoning and what
is it found in?
What makes listeriosis different from other types of food
poisoning?
How is staphylococcal spread? Where might you contact it?
What causes trichinosis and how is it killed?
ARTICLE: Food Poisoning and Safe Food Handling
1. What is food poisoning? Where is the bacteria found?
Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating foods that have
harmful organisms in them. Organisms include bacteria,
parasites and viruses. Mostly found in raw meat, chicken, fish
and eggs but can be spread on any type of food.
2. What are the main symptoms of food poisoning? What are
some less common symptoms?
First symptom is usually diarrhea. Other common symptoms
include nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Less common
symptoms are weakness, numbness, confusion or tingling of the
face, hands and feet.
3. Does food poisoning need medical attention? How long does it
typically last?
Most food poisoning goes away on its own in 2 to 3 days.
Typically only need to see a doctor in cases of severe
dehydration.
4. Quickly summarize the four most common ways that harmful
organisms are spread.
- During food processing (bacteria is common in the intestines
of healthy animals)
- During food growing (can be contaminated when washed
with unsanitary water)
- During food handling (can be contaminated when an infected
person touches the product)
- Through the environment (harmful organisms can be found
in dirt, dust and water then find their way into the food we
eat)
5. What happens to your body after you eat food that contains
harmful organisms?
Contaminating organism passes through the stomach and the
intestine, attaches to the intestinal walls and begins to multiply.
Some organisms stay in the intestines, some produce a toxin that is
absorbed into the bloodstream and others directly invade your
body tissue.
6. Who is at most risk of becoming ill due to food poisoning?
What 4 things increase your risk?
Most at risk: pregnant women, young children, older adults, people
with an impaired immune system. Ways to increase your risk:
1) Eating or drinking unpasteurized juices/milk, raw sprouts
and certain milk products made from unpasteurized milk
2) Eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs, fish and
shellfish
3) Eating or drinking contaminated food
4) Travelling to a developing country
7. Briefly list the 8 tips to help prevent food poisoning?
- Shop safely
- Prepare foods safely
- Store foods safely
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Serve foods safely
Follow labels on food packaging
When in doubt, throw it out
Do not leave food outdoors for more than 1 hour in the
summer (above 32°C) and never over 2 hours
8. Where is botulism found? Why/how do the toxins spread?
Found in home-canned foods and other oxygen-free items. Toxins
spread when the contaminated product reaches room
temperature (spores germinate into active bacteria). Toxins can
be killed by cooking above 160°F but foods are typically precooked so often are not cooked or not cooked thoroughly. Nitrate
is added to cured meats to suppress the active bacteria.
9. For whom is toxoplasmosis most dangerous?
Toxoplasmosis is most dangerous to pregnant women and the
developing fetus.
10. What is the most common type of food poisoning and what is
it found in?
Salmonella. Typically salmonella is found in raw or undercooked
poultry, meat eggs or fish, prepared food (cooked meat, poultry,
stuffing, gravy and fish), meat contaminated by feces and food
handlers with poor hygiene.
11. What makes listeriosis different from other types of food
poisoning?
Listeria (the bacteria that causes it) can survive and even grow in
the fridge. It is also virtually undetectable by look, smell and taste.
12. How is staphylococcal spread? Where might you contact it?
Staphylococcal is spread easily through coughing, sneezing and
other unsanitary practices. It grows best on protein-rich foods
including meat, poultry, fish, milk, cheese, custards, sandwiches,
pasta and potato salads.
13.What causes trichinosis and how is it killed?
It is caused by a microscopic worm (trichinella spiralis) that is
usually in the muscle tissue of animal products. It is killed when
the meat is cooked well.