Experts in food safety, quality, and legality
 
home
 food law intolerances lab analysis training
FOOD SAFETY TRAINING
Preventing food poisoning
 Food poisoning unfortunately affects hundreds of thousands of people in the UK each year. But Health Officers believe many more cases go unreported, as people do not visit their GP to have a formal diagnosis.
What is food poisoning?
Food poisoning occurs from eating food contaminated with sufficiently high numbers of bacteria, viruses, other organisms or chemicals. It is likely to occur at any time of the year, although Spring, Summer and Autumn tend to be more likely times because of warm temperatures.
Who is more likely to get food poisoning?
Generally the very young and the elderly are more likely to suffer, however, anyone who is ill or weak could also be vulnerable to food poisoning.
What symptoms are experienced?
The symptoms of food poisoning vary but generally include some or all of the following:-
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Stomach pains
  • Diarrhoea
  • Vomiting (Sickness)
Common sources of food poisoning
 There are four main types of food poisoning and these are:-
  • Bacteria - By far the most common source.
  • Viruses - These do not actually grow on food but may be carried in food. Viral outbreaks often originate from water, which produces typical food poisoning symptoms.
  • Chemicals and Metals - Food poisoning caused by chemicals is rare and is often caused through carelessness e.g. allowing cleaning chemicals to contaminate food.
  • Poisonous Plants - Food poisoning caused by eating or handling poisonous plants e.g. deadly nightshade or some fungi. This cause of illness is rare.
Telephone Nigel Rosenthal on 07818 447649 or email us at
web services Kaywebs