Every year, one in ten people become ill from pathogens in food. And that while you can often prevent this misery with good precautions and hygiene rules.
Food poisoning or infection?
Perhaps you have eaten something wrong yourself. What we popularly refer to as food poisoning does not necessarily have to be this. Heidy den Besten is professor of food microbiology at Wageningen University and makes a clear distinction between actual poisoning and infection.
In the latter, the cause is an infectious bacterium, also known as a pathogen (germ). An example is salmonella. Infections by foodborne pathogens mainly occur in the intestines and lead to diarrhoea, nausea and general malaise.
Do you especially have to throw up? Then you are probably not bothered by the bacteria itself, but by the toxins that this bacteria produces in food – and then there is poisoning. This often happens a little higher in the gut.
How Long Does Food Poisoning Last?
Good to know, but if you’re sitting on the toilet – or hovering over it – while reading this, you’re probably wondering only one thing: how long does such poisoning or infection last?
“In case of poisoning, the toxins are already in the food. As a result, the symptoms usually start very quickly. People sometimes get sick within an hour,” explains Den Besten. “By throwing up, your body works out the contaminated food, so you often recover after one or two days.” Got an infection? Then you are often sick for a little longer, about three to four days.
Not everyone is equally susceptible to foodborne pathogens. These four groups are particularly vulnerable:
- Babies and toddlers up to 3/4 years oldbecause their intestinal flora and immune system are still developing.
- Elderlybecause they often produce less stomach acid. Before bacteria can do anything, they first have to pass through the stomach (which is very acidic because of its job of digesting food). Due to the lower acidity of the stomach in the elderly, pathogens are more likely to arrive in the intestine.
- People with a weakened immune system.
- Pregnant women must be extra careful about raw products, as they can be a danger to both the fetus and the mother herself.
To be used until
Prevention is always better than cure. Den Besten therefore points to the different types of expiration dates of products: to be used by (tgt) and best before. The first is particularly important. “Use by is a date that really has to do with food safety. You must adhere to this, especially if you belong to the four risk groups.”
The date ‘best before’ is not linked to food safety, but says something about, for example, the dehydration or taste and color change of the product. It is therefore less important to prevent food poisoning or infection.
Hygiene in the kitchen
In addition, there are of course a number of tips that help to reduce the risk of nasty pathogens. Den Besten: “Be aware that there is a chance that raw products, such as meat, are contaminated. But at high temperatures, bacteria die. Do you fry your chicken breast? Then nothing is wrong. There is a problem if you cut the raw chicken on the same cutting board as your salad. It is very important to prevent this cross-contamination in the kitchen.”
Her tip? Purchase different cutting boards for products that you eat raw and for products that you cook or bake. And, of course, keep everything in the fridge. Low temperatures inhibit the growth of pathogens.
Drink enough
Do you still get intestinal complaints? Then avoid dehydration. “In case of diarrhea and vomiting, a lot of fluid leaves the body,” says Den Besten. “You are sick, so give your body enough rest, just like with the flu, but also make sure you keep enough fluids. Give yourself time to recover.”
Does cola help with food poisoning?
According to stories would cola help neutralize contaminated food in your body. Helpful tip or nonsense? According to Den Besten it is nonsense, although cola does affect the acidity in your stomach – which in turn affects whether or not a harmful bacteria survives. “Cola acidifies, so if you drink a large glass, your stomach becomes more acidic and with it the intestinal passage that the pathogens have to pass to make you sick.” Has the damage already been done? Unfortunately, cola will no longer help.
Is food poisoning contagious?
Are you infected and do you want to know whether it is better to stay away from your family members or roommates? Food poisoning itself is not contagious, as transmission occurs through food. However, high concentrations of pathogens can be present in your faeces, so that you can still infect others in the absence of good hand hygiene if your hands get into someone’s mouth or contaminate a product, for example.
According to Den Besten, tracing the actual germ is ‘detective work’. However, the symptoms and the duration of your illness often tell you which of the two forms you are dealing with. Good hygiene is always most important to avoid food poisoning or infections.
Prevent food poisoning or infection by refrigerating products properly. The video below shows you the best way to store feta.
Bron: Medicalfacts.nl
