Not all foodborne illnesses are the same. It occurs when food is contaminated with a harmful substance, such as bacteria, virus, parasites, natural toxins, or chemicals.
Some substances cause illness within minutes, while others take several hours, days or even weeks. For example, Salmonella bacteria usually take 12-72 hours after ingestion to cause illness. So remember, it’s not always the last food eaten that caused illness. The food that caused the illness may actually have been eaten several days before the illness began.
Symptoms of foodborne illness:
Common Symptoms |
Frequent Symptoms |
Unusual Symptoms |
Vomiting |
Fever |
Irregular Heartbeat |
Diarrhea |
Headache |
Flushing of skin |
Nausea |
Chills |
Difficulty Breathing |
Abdominal Cramps |
Muscle Aches |
Paralysis |
|
|
Dizziness |
Foodborne illness is not always the cause for vomiting or diarrhea. If you share a meal with someone and you both get sick, it’s likely that you are both suffering from a foodborne illness.
However, the more time you spend with another person, such as sharing the same residence or workplace, the more likely it is that you will both be exposed to the same illness. Many gastrointestinal illnesses, especially those that are viral, are not caused by food or drink.
People who work as food/beverage handlers should not handle food to be served to the public if they have specific foodborne illness symptoms or if they have been diagnosed with any illness that can be transmitted through food or food handling.