What Is Foodborne Illness?
Foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning, is a general category of sickness caused by bacterial or viral contamination of food. Culprits of food poisoning include:
Escherichia coli or E. coli
Many strains of E. coli are harmless, though certain strains, which may enter the body through contaminated water or food, can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and other illnesses.
Norovirus
The most common foodborne illness, norovirus can come from consuming food or drink infected with the virus, though it can also be spread easily from person to person. Symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and mild fever.
Salmonella
This bacteria lives in the intestines of mammals. People typically come in contact with it by eating food that has been contaminated by animal feces. Symptoms of a salmonella infection include vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
Listeria
While listeriosis is not very common in the United States, it's the leading cause of death among foodborne illnesses. Mild cases include GI distress, which resolves on its own.
However, Gisela Bouvier, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of the Southwest Florida-based Gisela Bouvier Nutrition, explains it can also get much more serious. “When the disease is invasive, it can invade beyond the gut, including the blood or brain, which can cause meningitis, miscarriage in pregnant women or other fatalities.”
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