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Bad food can cause major discomfort, illness, sever infections, and even death. Making sure that the food you eat is healthy and clean is extremely important to your health and well being.
italyfamilyhotels.it

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How can I avoid getting sick from the food I eat?

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How can I avoid getting sick from the food I eat?

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To prevent illness via food poisoning, follow 4 simple steps:
1. wash your hands and the surfaces you'll be using
2. separate meat from ready to eat foods like vegetables and fruits
3. make sure to cook meat to the appropriate temperatures temp
4. make sure to refrigerate perishable foods
c1.staticflickr.com

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How can I get sick from restaurant foods? 

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How can I get sick from restaurant foods? 

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Although the FDA tries to keep restaurants safe for customers, sometimes restaurants don't follow the given rules. if you think you got food poisoning from a restaurant, you can always go talk to the manager about it or report them to  the FDA
upload.wikimedia.org

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How can I tell if I have food poisoning?

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How can I tell if I have food poisoning?

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stomach cramping, fatigue, diarrhea or constipation, fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches, sweating, thirst, general malaise
all are symptoms of food poisoning
upload.wikimedia.org

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To keep your friends and family safe from food poisoning, make sure you share the 4 steps with them and also make sure you prepare food safely when sharing food.

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#foodpoisoning
#sick
#4steps
#safefood
#FDA
#clean
#seperate
#cook
#chill
#dontgetsickfromfood

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You've probably heard people talking about the stomach bug or stomach flu going around at work or your child's school. But what exactly is it? The technical term for this sickness is viral gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

Food poisoning is different. It's more common than the stomach bug. About 1 in 6 Americans, or roughly 48 million people, experience food poisoning each year.

Read on to learn more about the differences between the stomach bug and food poisoning.

Symptoms of a stomach bug

If you have the stomach bug, or viral gastroenteritis, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:

People typically develop stomach bug symptoms within 24 to 48 hours of being exposed to the virus. Many cases of the stomach bug resolve within a couple of days. However, it's not uncommon to feel sick for as many as 10 days. The longer the symptoms persist, the more you should be in touch with your doctor to rule out any complications or other illnesses.

Symptoms of food poisoning

Typical symptoms of food poisoning include:

In severe cases, you can have:

bloody stool or vomit

severe abdominal cramping

shock

loss of consciousness

The symptoms of food poisoning usually appear two to six hours after initial exposure. Symptoms typically don't last longer than two days. Food poisoning can occur in anyone, but it is most common in babies, young children, and the elderly.

Most forms of food poisoning aren't lethal. One form called botulism can even be fatal if individuals aren't treated properly. A strain of bacteria called Clostridium botulinum causes botulism. It produces toxins that impact the nervous system. Botulism can cause blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, and other symptoms. See your doctor if you suspect you have botulism. Botulism is extremely rare in the United States.

What causes the stomach bug?

Several different viruses may cause the stomach bug. Viruses that most frequently cause it include the norovirus, rotavirus, and adenovirus. The norovirus alone causes 21 million cases of the stomach virus in the United States each year. Other viruses such as the astrovirus can also cause this condition.

The stomach bug is highly contagious and most commonly occurs in the winter months from November and April. The most common way to catch the virus is from direct contact with someone who is sick. You can also catch the virus from contact with infected stool or vomit.

What causes food poisoning?

Food poisoning develops when infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites contaminate foods. Most commonly, either the bacterium Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus is responsible.

You may get food poisoning from eating contaminated or undercooked meat. However, meat isn't the only food that causes food poisoning. The following foods can also carry foodborne illness:

raw and undercooked eggs

raw sprouts

soft or unpasteurized cheeses, such as Brie and feta

vegetables and fruits that aren't well-washed

raw fish or oysters

contaminated water

unpasteurized beverages, such as milk, cider, and juice

undercooked rice

After several days with either the stomach bug or food poisoning, you may develop dehydration. Watch for the following signs and symptoms of dehydration:

a decrease in urine output

dryness in your mouth or throat

dizziness when standing

dry diapers

a lack of tears in babies and toddlers

low blood pressure

a lack of tears

excessive thirst

dark urine

dizziness, especially when standing

Babies may have sunken eyes and fontanels. The fontanel is also known as the soft spot. You should seek medical attention if any of these symptoms occur.

Treating a stomach bug

Dehydration is a serious concern for people who have the stomach virus. Watch for the symptoms of dehydration. You should seek medical attention if any of these symptoms occur.

Make sure you get plenty of fluids. Adults should drink fluids with electrolytes such as Gatorade, and children should get fluid replacement solutions. These drinks coupled with water will help restore the body's hydration balance. For best results, drink about 2 to 4 ounces every half hour to an hour. Don't drink fruit juice or sodas, as these liquids don't replace lost electrolytes.

Once you feel ready to eat again, you should also give your stomach a break by slowly introducing bland foods into your diet. These may include:

Avoid dairy, alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods that might upset your stomach.

Treating food poisoning

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following:

blood or pus in your stool

diarrhea lasting more than five days in adults or more than two days in infants and young children

persistent diarrhea coupled with a fever above 101°F (38°C) in adults or above 100.4°F (38°C) in children

symptoms of dehydration, including fatigue and extreme thirst

symptoms of botulism

symptoms of food poisoning after visiting a developing country

If you have a mild case of food poisoning, it may respond well to rest and fever-reducing medications. If you have a severe case, your doctor may give you steroids to help with heart and muscle issues.

Your doctor will review your symptoms and run tests to determine the best course of action.
What to eat after food poisoning "
Preventing the stomach bug

Even though the stomach bug is sometimes called the stomach flu, your annual flu vaccine will not prevent it. A different type of virus causes the stomach bug. Antibiotics will not help treat the stomach bug because it's a virus and antibiotics treat bacteria.

Take measures to prevent yourself from spreading the stomach flu to others. You're most contagious when you're feeling the worst and a few days afterward. The bug can stay in your stool for up to two weeks. Wash your hands often and stay home from work or school for at least three days after you feel better.

You should also consider having your baby get the vaccine against the rotavirus when they're 2 months old.

Preventing food poisoning

Steps you can take to prevent food poisoning include the following:

keep food preparation surfaces, utensils, and your hands clean

cook beef to 160°F (71°C)

cook pork to 145°F (62°C)

cook chicken and turkey to 165°F (73°C)

make sure seafood is fully cooked

make sure canned foods are from trusted distributors

refrigerate any perishable foods within one or two hours

if a food looks questionable, throw it out

While many symptoms of the stomach bug and food poisoning are similar, it's important to determine which sickness you may have. The symptoms of food poisoning:

occur more quickly after exposure

are usually more severe than symptoms of a stomach bug

are usually shorter in duration than symptoms of a stomach bug

Food poisoning is more likely to require medical attention since the symptoms are generally more severe than the symptoms of gastroenteritis. People can usually manage either condition with rest, hydration, and medical treatment. Food poisoning may require antibiotics as well.

If you're unsure about what's causing your symptoms, check in with your doctor to be safe. Other health issues can cause gastrointestinal distress. In any case, call your doctor for help if your symptoms worsen.

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You've probably heard people talking about the stomach bug or stomach flu going around at work or your child's school. But what exactly is it? The technical term for this sickness is viral gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Food poisoning is different.

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There's more to healthy living than Healthy Living recipes! Most important? Food safety. For example: Do you know what to clean your cutting boards with? (Good news: It's a homemade solution.) Check out our top 10 food safety tips below to confirm what you know and discover what you don't. We also have seasonal tips-from Easter egg safety to grilling smart. You also may want to check out our food safety FAQs, then take the food safety IQ quiz afterwards. Watch out for number 6-it's tricky!

Top 10 food safety tips

Print out this tip sheet of basic food-safety tips, then post it on your refrigerator or kitchen cabinet so that it's always handy for quick reference. Make sure everyone in the family - even the babysitter - reads through it before handling food.

1. Rub-a-Dub-Dub
Always wash your hands with hot soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.

2. 2-Hour Rule
Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared food and leftovers within 2 hours. Do not leave them sitting out at room temperature.

3. Thaw Law
Always thaw food in the refrigerator. Never defrost food at room temperature on the countertop.

4. Temperature's Rising
Cook food to the proper internal temperature and check for doneness with a thermometer. Here are a few basic temps:

5. Cutting Edge Clean
Wash cutting boards and knives with hot soapy water after food preparation, especially after cutting raw meat, poultry or seafood. Sanitize cutting boards and counters with a dilute bleach solution - Add 2/3 cup bleach to a gallon of water; put in a spray bottle for easy use.

6. Raw Deal
Never place food on the same plate or cutting board that previously held raw meat, poultry or seafood unless the cutting board has been thoroughly washed.

7. The Eyes Have It
Use visual signs of doneness when a thermometer is not used:

Steam rises from food

Clear juices run from meat and poultry, not pink

Pork, veal and poultry are white inside, not pink or red

Shellfish is opaque and fish flakes easily with a fork

Egg yolks are firm, not runny, and egg whites are opaque

8. Bottom Line

9. Mindful Marinating
Always marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the countertop. Discard leftover marinades that have been used with raw meat, poultry or seafood.

10. Towel Turnover
Replace and wash dish towels and sponges often to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria throughout the kitchen. Use paper towels to dry washed hands after handling raw foods.

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Top 10 Food Safety Tips To Help Keep Your Family Safe

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There's more to healthy living than Healthy Living recipes! Most important? Food safety. For example: Do you know what to clean your cutting boards with? (Good news: It's a homemade solution.) Check out our top 10 food safety tips below to confirm what you know and discover what you don't.

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Florida Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence

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Kitchen Safety: Simple Steps to Avoid Food Poisoning

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Did you know that 1 in 6 Americans gets sick every year from food poisoning? There are simple steps to take to reduce your risk! Learn how to stay safe in the kitchen with this informative motion graphic from the Home Food Safety program. For more videos, tips and quizzes, visit HomeFoodSafety.org.

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Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County

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