Food Poisoning 101
Food poisoning can be with out a doubt the worst feeling in the world. The symptoms can be very ugly and include upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes at the same time), cramping, chills, dehydration and sensitive skin. This can last from 24 hours to several days.
Food contamination can be caused several ways. The main reason is the mishandling of food using bad cleaning, storage, cooking and serving techniques. Another cause is due to the spread of germs, bacteria, viruses in the food and the people cooking your food. Lastly food can be contaminated by physical stuff like cleaning products, bugs and trash.
Get those germs out of your kitchen!
The best way to prevent food contamination is to keep your kitchen clean and organized. Here are 4 easy ways to keep your kitchen safe for food preparation.
What to do if you get sick?
If you do get food poisoning from someones home, report it to them immediately. If you got sick while eating in a restaurant, report it to the establishment. If they are not responsive, contact your local health department. You will be asked about the date, time, the food that you ate and the symptoms you have. They will contact the establishment and run through there kitchen's cooking and sanitation procedures.
If you do get sick, contact your doctor immediately. They will be able to let you know how you should proceed. Eating and drinking will be the last thing on your mind but, you must keep hydrated while going through the sickness. Try sipping warm tea with ginger, water, Pedialyte and attempt to eat something light like broth or a banana.
Food poisoning may not happen to you often, but it is something that society deals with everyday. Now that you know what causes it, you can be ever vigilant against it in your home.
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