What are the main symptoms of foodborne illness/food poisoning?
• Diarrhoea • Stomach cramps • Vomiting • Fever • Nausea • Headache • Dizziness There are many types of foodborne illness caused by different bacteria. The most common include: • Campylobacter – Symptoms include stomach cramps and severe diarrhoea but rarely vomiting. They can begin 2-10 days after eating contaminated food but usually within 2-5 days. Main sources are undercooked chicken and other meats, handling pets, cross-contamination to other foods, raw milk and contaminated water. This organism is the most common cause of acute diarrhoea in adults. • Salmonella – Symptoms include stomach pain, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting. It usually takes about 12-48 hours for the illness to develop. Symptoms can be much more severe in the young and elderly. Main sources are undercooked meat and poultry, untreated milk and raw or undercooked eggs. This organism is the 2nd most common form of food poisoning. • E.coli 0157 – Symptoms include severe bloody diarrhoea, and the infection can lead to
