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Food poisoning is caused by eating contaminated food and affects a large number of Australians every year. Food can be contaminated when it is handled, stored or prepared incorrectly. Some foods have a higher risk of causing food poisoning, and some people are more at risk of getting food poisoning than others. Watch this video about food safety. Food poisoning and bacteriaFood poisoning occurs when sufficient numbers of particular types of bacteria, or their toxins, are present in the food you eat. These bacteria are called pathogens. High-risk foods for food poisoningFood contamination is not just limited to foods you may consider risky, such as chicken or fish. Prepared fruits, vegetables and salads can also be potentially dangerous. Contaminated food will usually look, smell and taste normal. Food poisoning bacteria can grow and multiply on some types of food more easily than others. Potentially high-risk foods include:
People at risk of food poisoningSome people are more at risk of getting food poisoning than others. Take special care when buying, storing and preparing food for these people. Vulnerable groups include:
Causes of food poisoningPathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli may be found in our food-producing animals. Care in processing, transport, storage, preparing and serving of food is necessary to reduce the risk of contamination. Food poisoning bacteria can multiply very quickly, particularly in certain conditions. The factors that affect bacterial growth include:
Symptoms of food poisoningThe symptoms of food poisoning may vary depending on the type of bacteria causing the illness. Symptoms can range from mild to very severe. Symptoms can occur almost immediately after eating, or a number of hours later, and they can last from 24 hours to 5 days. When you get sick, you usually experience one or more of:
Some food-borne pathogens cause other symptoms. For instance, pathogenic Listeria bacteria may cause miscarriage or meningitis and can cause severe illness in susceptible people. Food poisoning can also lead to other long-term illnesses and symptoms. If you think you have food poisoningIf you experience symptoms and think you have food poisoning, see your doctor as soon as possible. It's also a good idea to report your illness to your local council or the Department of Health, so that the causes can be investigated. This is particularly important if you think the illness is related to eating out at a restaurant or café, or to food purchased from a shop or takeaway outlet. How to prevent food poisoningThere are some simple rules you can follow to minimise the risk of food poisoning. You should take steps to:
Buying food and food poisoningWhen you buy food:
Preparing food and food poisoningWhen you prepare food:
Storing food and food poisoningWhen you store food:
Where to get help
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