Food Poisoning Causes, Symptoms and Preventive Measures

Food poisoning affects the functions of the body.



Please help me out with preventive measures for food poisoning?

Food poisoning is caused due to consumption of contaminated food. It is also called food borne illness. The cause of food poisoning is the presence of viruses, pathogenic bacteria and parasites that are found in contaminated food.




 
Food Poisoning Causes

The main cause of food poisoning is eating contaminated food. Food contamination can occur due to various reasons described as follows:

•    It is caused due to improper intake of food, inadequate and improper food storage and handling.
•    Lack of good hygiene in preparing and handling food also leads to food contamination.



Hence it becomes to follow food safety measures at all times.
•    Another cause of foodborne disease is the presence of pesticides and medicines in food.
•    There are some naturally toxic foods such as poisonous mushrooms and reef fish that also cause food poisoning.   
     
Food Poisoning Symptoms

The symptoms of food poisoning may start to occur after a few hours or days depending on the bacteria or the virus involved.

The most common symptoms for food poisoning include :

•    Abdominal Pain
•    Fatigue
•    Fever
•    Vomiting
•    Gastroenteritis
•    Diarrhea

Effects of Food Poisoning and Food Poisoning Treatments

In most cases the body will be able to recover on its own. However foodborne illnesses for a longer period of time in children and adults can lead to grave consequences such as death. Hence it’s best to pay a visit to a doctor if the symptoms do not subside within a reasonable period of time. Sick people, infants and pregnant women should take extra care and precautions if they are suffering from food poisoning.

Taking preventive measures

Prevention works best in the case of food poisoning. The cause of food poisoning can be traced from the origin of the products and the location where they were processed. Hence any product that is found to be contaminated is discarded.

The following measures can be used to prevent food poisoning

•    Strict rules of hygiene should be followed while handling food at home.
•    Strict standards should also be followed while handling animal products in shops and restaurants.



Hence any product that is found to be contaminated is discarded.
•    At home, all vegetables and fruits should be washed thoroughly with water. Also wash your hands when you are handling food.
•    Keep the food wrapped and refrigerated when you are not using it.
•    Keep the food away from chemicals and insects.
•    Foods like meat should be cooked thoroughly before eating.