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Food Poisoning
DefinitionFood poisoning is the result of eating organisms or toxins in contaminated food. Most cases of food poisoning are a result of common bacteria like Staphylococcus or E. coli.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Food poisoning can affect one person or it can occur as an outbreak in a group of people who all ate the same contaminated food.
Even though food poisoning is relatively rare in the United States, it affects between 60 and 80 million people worldwide each year and results in approximately 6 to 8 million deaths.
Food poisoning tends to occur at picnics, school cafeterias, and large social functions. These are situations where food may be left unrefrigerated too long or food preparation techniques are not clean. Food poisoning often occurs from undercooked meats or dairy products (like mayonnaise mixed in cole slaw or potato salad) that have sat out too long.
Food poisoning can be caused by:
Infants and elderly people have the greatest risk for food poisoning. You are also at higher risk if you have a serious medical condition, like kidney disease or diabetes, a weakened immune system, or you travel outside of the U.S. to areas where there is more exposure to organisms that cause food poisoning. Pregnant and breastfeeding women have to be especially careful as well.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Food Poisoning Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Food Poisoning Symptoms & Signs
• Food Poisoning Prevention
• Food Poisoning Diagnosis & Tests
• Food Poisoning Treatment
• Food Poisoning Prognosis
• Food Poisoning Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Botulism
• Campylobacter Enteritis
• Cholera
• Dehydration
• Diphyllobothriasis
• E. Coli Enteritis
• Pericarditis
• Salmonella Enterocolitis
• Shigella Enteritis
• Staph Aureus Food Poisoning
Other Topics
• Abdominal Pain
• Bloody or Tarry Stools
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Headache
• Intravenous
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Weakness
Review Date : 8/8/2003
Reviewed By : Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M.,Inc. Previously reviewed by Steven Angelo, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (1/12/2003).
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