Steps And Strategies To Prevent Food Poisoning
Steps And Strategies To Prevent Food Poisoning
The attendees however began experiencing severe stomach pains, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The victims were rushed to Londiani Sub-county Hospital, where 63 remained admitted, while 113 were discharged.
Medics at Londiani Subcounty Hospital said all 176 patients presented similar symptoms and were diagnosed with food poisoning.
Food poisoning: symptoms
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) says food poisoning is caused by eating food contaminated with illness-causing pathogens.
Food poisoning is not contagious, and the symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the cause.
The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, weakness, loss of appetite, fever, aching muscles, and chills.
EUFIC states that in severe cases, food poisoning can lead to hospitalization or even death.
The Council adds that depending on the cause, food poisoning can last from a couple of hours up to several days.
Causes of food poisoning
Food poisoning can be caused by viruses and bacteria where microbes can take time to multiply to levels that cause symptoms.
EUFIC says may take several days for symptoms to appear.
Bacteria such as Campylobacter and salmonella, and viruses such as norovirus are common causes.
It can also be caused by parasites, where, depending on the type of parasites, the onset of symptoms can vary, and some people may be unaware they have been infected.
Toxins are also a major cause of food poisoning. EUFIC points out that cooking kills bacteria but toxins remain in the food and can cause illness.
The symptoms can appear just a few hours after eating contaminated food.
Preventing food poisoning: Steps and strategies
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should often wash your hands and keep the surfaces clean.
“Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm or cold water before, during, and after preparing food and before eating,” the CDC says.
It also advocates for one to separate raw meat, chicken and other poultry, seafood, and eggs, from other foods.
This ensures that there is no cross-contaminate.
CDC also directs cooking to the right temperature, saying food is safely cooked when the internal temperature gets high enough to kill germs that can make you sick.
The center adds that one should microwave food thoroughly.
“Letting food sit for a few minutes after microwaving allows cold spots to absorb heat from hotter areas and cook more completely,” it explains.
It also emphasizes refrigerating promptly as food gets contaminated at some temperatures.
“Microorganisms can multiply quickly, make sure to slow down the process by storing below 5°C or heating over 60°C,” EUFIC affirms.
Another strategy is to be aware of expiry dates and use safe water and raw ingredients.
This is where one is supposed to use safe water for washing food and cooking and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
One should know their food sources and only buy food from reputable sources and ensure that it is stored and handled properly at the store.
Steps And Strategies To Prevent Food Poisoning
