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Is Food Poisoning Contagious?
If you are the type of person who plays “fast and loose” with food safety—maybe, you are willing to eat those deviled eggs that have been sitting on the buffet table all day—there is a good chance you had to deal with food poisoning occasionally. And, you might not have even recognized your issues as food poisoning, as some cases can be much milder than others.
Most of us generally understand that improper food handling and storage temperatures can allow the pathogens that cause foodborne illness to contaminate our food. But what if someone else in your household ate contaminated food and you did not? Is it possible to contract a foodborne illness from another person? The answer, unfortunately, is yes.
How Food Poisoning Can Be Spread
There are two basic ways in which food poisoning spreads from person to person. The first is through direct exposure to the bodily fluids of an infected person. For example, if your spouse is suffering from a foodborne illness caused by norovirus, the virus is likely to be present in his or her vomit or diarrhea. This means you need to be extra careful as you help care for your spouse and to take all proper precautions to avoid exposure to the pathogen.
Summer Cookout Safety Tips: Grilling Meat, Chicken, and Seafood
A couple of weeks ago, we talked a little bit about how a clean grill is very important in preventing food poisoning at your summer cookouts. With Memorial Day fast approaching—the holiday that many observe as the semi-official start of summer—more and more people will be hosting barbecues and cooking out on the grill again. While a clean grill is a great start, there are other steps that you should be taking to ensure that your food is safe to eat.
Guidelines for Safe Grilling
Whether you are having dozens of people over for a party or simply preparing dinner for your family, it is critical to handle meat, chicken, and seafood properly, or you run the risk of making people very sick. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some tips from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the safe handling of grilled proteins.
Separate raw proteins – Food safety begins at the grocery store. When you are shopping, be sure to grab meat or seafood last so that products can stay refrigerated longer. Then, separate them from the other items in your cart and bags. It is also a good idea to put raw meat or poultry in individual bags to prevent cross-contamination.
Summer Cookout Safety Tips: Preventing Foodborne Illness by Cleaning Your Grill
The calendar has flipped over to May, which means that outdoor grilling season is fast approaching for residents of Northern Illinois. Whether you consider yourself a beginner with a propane grill, a master of the charcoal grill, or a barbecue pit boss, there is nothing quite like meat—and veggies or other sides—that has been grilled to perfection. However, food cooked on the grill could be contaminated with dangerous bacteria if the grill is not maintained properly. Today, we will look at some simple steps you can take to ensure that your food is both delicious and safe for your family and guests to eat.
A Dirty Grill Can Harbor Illness-Causing Bacteria
Whether you use your grill just about every night or only on special occasions, it is critical to maintain and clean the grill grates on a regular basis. Whenever you cook on a grill, there are inevitably bits of food that remain stuck to the grill grates—even if you cannot see them. These food particles are likely to attract insects, birds, and other animals, which can introduce untold amounts of bacteria—and even waste—to the surface of the grill. Even without bugs or birds, the food itself can become contaminated with bacteria as the grill sits outside in the sun.
Are My Hardboiled Easter Eggs Still Safe to Eat?
Just over a week ago, families throughout the country and around the world celebrated the Christian holiday of Easter. Of course, chocolate and candy are big parts of this celebration in many, if not most, households, and many still include hard-boiled eggs as part of their traditions as well. In fact, coloring Easter eggs is a highly anticipated family event in a large number of American homes. These dyed eggs often find their way into Easter baskets and onto the buffet table on Easter Sunday, but waiting too long to eat them can lead to spoiled eggs, bacterial contamination, and foodborne illness.
Refrigeration is Key
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), hard-boiled eggs should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Temperatures between 40 and 140°F are considered the “danger zone.” At these temps, dangerous bacteria can grow and reproduce very quickly.
Wedding Trip Story Highlights Overlooked Considerations in a Foodborne Illness Case
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 50 million Americans suffer from some type of foodborne illness or food poisoning in an average year. Of course, foodborne illnesses are also a problem throughout the rest of the world as well.
Consider the example of a British couple who planned to celebrate their wedding and enjoy a honeymoon trip to the United States—complete with a Hawaiian cruise, a visit to Disneyland, and a few days in sunny Los Angeles. Everything was coming together nicely for the bride and groom until she—along with more than two dozen wedding guests—fell ill following the reception at a well-known wedding venue in London.
The Background
The couple got married in March 2018 after more than two years of planning and finding the right venue. They selected a particular venue based on recommendations and favorable reviews. However, following the reception, the bride plus a staggering 28 of the 180 guests reported suffering from food poisoning. A report by Public Health England would eventually determine that a campylobacter outbreak occurred that day, most likely caused by contaminated chicken liver pâté that the guests were served.
What You Need to Know About the Symptoms of Food Poisoning
We have all been there. In the hours after a good meal—or maybe the next day—you might start feeling a little off. Maybe your stomach begins to bother you, or you are feeling dizzy and cannot explain why. You might wonder if you are coming down with a gastrointestinal bug, and you might even start trying to figure out if anyone around you seemed sick in the last couple of days. At some point, you might start wondering if you are feeling ill because of something you ate.
The reality is that thousands of people are affected by food poisoning or a foodborne illness in the United States each year. The vast majority of victims suffer at home, as their symptoms are not serious enough to warrant a trip to the doctor. However, it is important to recognize when you should seek medical attention to ensure that your health and your right to compensation, in certain cases, are fully protected.
The Dangers of Foodborne Illness at Your Lenten Fish Fry
The season of Lent is upon us, which means that practicing Christians have started their religious preparations for Easter. For many, this includes abstaining from eating meat on Fridays. However, even those who do not observe the religious nature of the season may be affected by it, especially from a culinary perspective.
Throughout Lent, many restaurants and bars, and even volunteer fire departments, church social clubs, and community organizations offer “fish fries.” In fact, you can find a fish fry just about any time of year in the Midwest, but things really ramp up during Lent. As with any food-related celebration, it is important to be wary of foodborne illness as you tuck in for your Friday fish fry this year.
What Types of Contamination Are Possible?
Listeria in Packaged Salads Kills Two
A popular producer of pre-packaged salads is under intense scrutiny, as an outbreak of listeria has been linked to two deaths. According to reports, an outbreak of listeria was traced to packaged salads produced by Dole, and the outbreak has now been linked to at least two deaths.
Outbreak Is One of Two Under Investigation
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some 17 cases of foodborne illness that have led to at least 13 hospitalizations were traced to Dole-produced products. These include garden salads, mixed greens, Caesar salad kits, and other kinds of salads sold in clamshells or bags.
The affected products were recalled beginning in late December, and they were sold under a number of brand names, including:
USDA Issues Guidance on Preventing Foodborne Illness on Super Bowl Sunday
On Sunday, February 13, 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams will square off in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. According to estimates, some 13 million Americans will gather in homes and establishments around the country to watch the game, and it just simply is not a Super Bowl party without food. Super Bowl Sunday has become a uniquely American experience—and a tradition—over the last half-century, but it is also a potential source for foodborne illness. With this in mind, the United States Department of Agriculture has issued a press release that offers food safety tips for keeping your Super Bowl celebration from taking a turn for the worst.
The Dangers of Day-Long Food Parties
Other holidays with food-related traditions are fairly likely to be centered around mealtimes, such as Thanksgiving dinner. Most of the food involved is only left out for a relatively short amount of time. On Super Bowl Sunday, however, the food table is often set up a few hours before the game, and fans continue to graze and snack for as long as the game lasts. This means that food might be left sitting out for as many as six or eight hours.
5 Frequently Asked Questions About Food Poisoning
While people may be careful to avoid eating foods that could potentially be harmful, there are a variety of situations where food poisoning may occur. Because foodborne illnesses can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort and have long-lasting effects, those who have contracted these illnesses will want to understand who was responsible, and they may be able to pursue financial compensation for their injuries and damages. Our firm works to keep people informed about issues related to food poisoning, and we regularly answer questions about these matters, including:
How Common Is Food Poisoning?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around one out of every six people in the United States contract foodborne illnesses every year. Out of the people who are affected, around 128,000 become severely ill and require hospitalization, and around 3,000 illnesses are fatal.
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