Causes and Differences in Foodborne Illnesses

image of cartoon virus Foodborne illness or food poisoning is a common, costly - yet preventable - public health problem. It is caused by consuming contaminated foods or beverages. Most foodborne diseases are infections caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses and parasites. Other diseases are poisonings caused by harmful toxins or chemicals that have contaminated food. Many different diseases can contaminate foods, so there are many different foodborne infections. More than 250 different foodborne diseases have been described. These different diseases have many different symptoms, so there is no one syndrome that is foodborne illness. Below are some common recognized foodborne infections or causes of foodborne illnesses.

Some common symptoms of foodborne illness are diarrhea and/or vomiting, typically lasting 1 to 7 days. Other symptoms might include abdominal cramps, nausea, fever, joint/back aches and fatigue.

So how do we prevent foodborne illness?

Pay close attention to recall announcements, and don't buy fruits and vegetables that have been called into question.
Don't be afraid to generalize; if you hear that spinach from one region is being recalled, don't buy spinach for a while until an all clear is sounded.
Find out where your produce is from; canned frozen and dried produce from Mexico and other countries may be processed and packed in plants that are not inspected according to US standards.

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