5 Facts and Myths About Food Poisoning

You can only get food poisoning from food which is not properly cooked or kept cold.

False: One type of food poisoning is resistant to heat and cannot be destroyed by cooking. Which one?

Staphylococcal aureus. This bacterium makes seven different toxins which are frequently responsible for food poisoning. The bacteria which manufacturer these toxins are transported through food workers and contaminated milk and cheeses. The bacteria can grow even in the presence of salt, such as that in ham. So, foods that require no cooking, like pudding, pastries, sliced meat, and prepared sandwiches, are high risk items.

True or False:

Antibiotics help food poisoning.

False: For the reasons listed above, Staphylococcus toxins are not alive and therefore cannot be killed by antibiotics. The poisoning is usually gone in one to three days. In the case of E. coli, the virus usually leaves the patient in five to ten days, and some antibiotics may have deleterious effects.

True or False:

E. coli comes from feces.

True: The bacteria Escherichia coli, or E. coli, if commonly found in the intestines of animals. It can find its way into food through uncleanness. Food may look and smell normal, but may be contaminated. The best way to prevent this infection is to wash hands after using the toilet and before preparing food and to cook food completely, especially ground beef. The bacteria can also be present on a cow's udders, so one would do well to avoid unpasteurized milk.

True of False:

Pet turtles can carry salmonella.

True: Reptiles, such as turtles, lizards and snakes can harbor salmonella. Also, young birds may carry the infection in their feces. We can avoid contamination by washing our hands thoroughly after any contact with these animals, including their environment.

True or False:

People with food poisoning are contagious.

False: Probably not. Food poisoning is just that, sickness which comes from food, not humans. In the case of Staphylococcus, the toxins are not transferrable.

One interesting question:

Can food poisoning be transferred in a terrorist attack?

Yes. The toxins of staphylococcus can be placed in food and water or transferred by aerosolization and inhalation.

Sources:

The Centers for Disease Control, "Staphylococcus Food Poisoning", http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/staphylococcus_food_g.htm

The Centers for Disease Control "How do people catch Salmonella", http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp?pid=10896

The Centers for Disease Control, "E. coli O157:H7", http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/p0000417/p0000417.asp