Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is illness that results due the consumption of food which is contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Most people get better without the need for treatment. In most cases, the food that causes the illness has been contaminated by bacteria, such as salmonella or E. coli, or a virus, such as the norovirus. The contamination of food can occur at any point beginning from growing, till processing and shipping of the product. Improper cooking of the food may also be the cause. Another cause can be when pathogens are transferred from one surface to another especially in case of ready-to-eat foods or raw foods. Since these foods aren’t cooked before consumption, pathogens are not destroyed and ingesting them may lead to food poisoning. This is called cross-contamination.