Food poisoning

Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness, is an unpleasant condition caused by consuming contaminated food. This term encompasses a range of illnesses with varying symptoms depending on the source of contamination. Common signs and symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, and fever. These symptoms can start within hours after eating contaminated food or may begin days or even weeks later, typically lasting from a few hours to several days.

Common signs and symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps, and fever. These symptoms can start within hours after eating contaminated food or may begin days or even weeks later, typically lasting from a few hours to several days.

Sources of Contamination

The primary sources of foodborne illness are:

• Bacteria: 66%
• Chemicals: 26%
• Parasites: 4%
• Viruses: 4 %
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Contamination can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and, less frequently, by parasites or chemicals. According to a report by the Food Standards Agency, an estimated 2,400,000 cases of foodborne diseases occurred in 2018, costing the economy approximately £9.1 billion. Of these cases, over 200,000 resulted in visits to general practitioners, with around 15,000 requiring hospitalization.

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