MTo be fair, no nation in the modern world takes food poisoning particularly seriously. Yes, most people wash their hands after handling raw chicken and use different cutting boards for beef and green beans, but how many of us can honestly say we've never used the same tongs for an entire barbecue or left a box of cooked rice on the sideboard for a couple of hours? However, ignore this rhetorical question for a moment – before you comment on this. Certainly everyone should do all these things, let's talk about what happens in your body when things go horribly wrong.
At the risk of stating the obvious, food poisoning occurs when you eat food contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses or toxins – but that doesn't mean it always works the same. “Some bacteria, such as Bacillus cereus – sometimes found in reheated rice – produce toxins before the food is eaten, meaning they can cause symptoms such as sudden vomiting within a few hours, says Dr Masarat Jilani, an NHS specialist who regularly treats children and adults with food poisoning. Bacillus cereus Additionally, the small intestine produces another type of toxin that can cause diarrhea. “Others such as Salmonella And coliact after meals and often cause longer lasting symptoms due to intestinal inflammation.”
Technically speaking, an expert can guess what type of bacteria or virus you ingested based on how quickly you get sick after eating it. But in practice this rarely happens.
“All these bacteria act differently,” says Dr. Emma Doughty, infectious disease scientist. “Campylobacter jejuni The bacteria, which are often found in poultry, are spiral-shaped and work their way through the intestinal lining. This is different from, say, Shigatoxigenic. coliwhich releases Shiga toxins. Both cause intestinal inflammation and diarrhea.” This means that while there are some effective treatments for food poisoning, such as antibiotics, it is not always easy for doctors to know which one to prescribe.
“If you have a stomach condition and you go to the doctor, you won't usually be prescribed antibiotics,” Doughty says. “The reason is that if you have a variant that produces Shiga toxin, coliand if you then kill all those bugs with antibiotics, they will just release all the toxins inside them and make you even sicker. So without a specific diagnosis of infection, it’s often safer to just let things work themselves out.”
What to do to avoid all these troubles? “Some of the most classic advice still applies,” says Doughty. “Oysters always pose a risk, as does any raw meat. “There's been a trend lately for people to eat burgers medium rare, which is a bit worrying.” Let me explain: If you are going to eat beef, you need to burn the parts that have been exposed to the air to kill most of the bacteria that may be living on it. In the case of steak, this means only the outside, but in the case of ground meat, this means almost everything.
Washing the chicken – more incredibly popular on TikTok – is strictly prohibited, as this is more likely to spread bacteria throughout the kitchen and utensils than to reduce the likelihood of infection. Obviously, you should keep things clean, keep raw meat separate from other food, cool cooked food quickly and refrigerate it within two hours of cooking, and make sure the food is cooked correctly, perhaps using a meat thermometer. “As with many infections, hand washing is really important to prevent illness,” says Doughty. “In this case, that means washing your hands thoroughly after handling food and after using the toilet.”
If things go wrong, most people won't have anything to worry about, assuming they're not at risk. “The main risk of food poisoning is dehydration, so it's important to drink plenty of water and take oral rehydration salts when you experience it,” Jilani says. “Establishing a balanced diet is also important for recovery, and in the initial stages we often recommend the Brat Diet – bananas, rice, applesauce and toast – if you feel you cannot return to your normal diet straight away.”
In more severe cases, food poisoning can lead to sepsis, which can include symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and dizziness. If you feel this may happen, call your GP immediately. “In a minority of cases, you may also develop post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which can be characterized by abdominal pain and bloating,” says Jilani. Again, see your doctor if it persists.
The good news is that most cases of food poisoning will go away on their own within a few days as your immune system gets to grips with it. Just be careful with the tongs next time.
