What is food poisoning and how does it occur?

Food poising is a illness caused by bacteria or other toxins in food, typically with vomiting and diarrhoea.

ood poisoning, also called foodborne illness, is illness caused by eating contaminated food. Infectious organisms — including bacteria, viruses and parasites — or their toxins are the most common causes of food poisoning.

Infectious organisms or their toxins can contaminate food at any point of processing or production. Contamination can also occur at home if food is incorrectly handled or cooked.

Food poisoning symptoms, which can start within hours of eating contaminated food, often include nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Most often, food poisoning is mild and resolves without treatment. But some people need to go to the hospital.

Food poising is fairly common and occurs in every 1 out of 6 Americans each year. Food poisoning occurs after eating foreign germs, viruses, or parasites. Food poisoning symptoms include vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea that is normally set on within a few hours of eating. On occasion, food poisoning symptoms may take days or a week to show up, but symptoms generally last only a few days at most.

The bacteria or germs can exist in the foods at any stage. One of the more common causes of food poisoning is caused by improper food preparation and the smallest amount of bacteria can ruin a large batch of food.