Food poisoning is common. It’s also inconvenient and sometimes even deadly. When food isn’t handled correctly, undercooked or is left out too long without proper heating or refrigeration, there is cause for concern.

There are more than 250 strains of bacteria that can produce food poisoning. However, the most common forms of food poisoning in the US include: Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria and Campylobacter.

How do you get Salmonella poisoning?

Salmonella most commonly comes from undercooked pork, chicken, turkey and eggs. Forget eating raw cookie dough; it could be tainted with salmonella.

Some of the symptoms of salmonella include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Salmonella usually clears up on its own within a few days. However a doctor should be consulted when the young, the elderly or immune deficient are suspected of having salmonella poisoning.

How do you get E. coli infections?

According to the Center of Disease Control, an estimated 73,000 cases of E. coli occur in the US every year. E. coli infections commonly result from consuming undercooked ground beef, drinking or swimming in sewer-contaminated water or drinking unpasteurized milk.

The tell-tale sign of E. coli sudden bloody diarrhea. If you suspect you have and E. coli infection see a doctor right away.

How do you get Listeria?

Listeria is a bacteria commonly found in tainted soil, water or manure. As a result, vegetables grown in soil or fertilized with tainted manure can also become tainted with Listeria. Unpasteurized foods, like milk and cheese, can also become infected with Listeria.

Symptoms of Listeria include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. If Listeria spreads to the nervous system, symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, convulsions and loss of balance. If you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, are elderly or have a serious illness and suspect you have Listeria, see a doctor right away.

How do you get Campylobacter?

is usually transmitted by consuming contaminated food, water or unpasteurized milk products. The most common symptoms include sudden diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and fever.

Campylobacter usually clears on its own in a few days. However if you suspect you have been exposed to Campylobacter, see your doctor. He may prescribe you an antibiotic to make your recovery time shorter.

How to avoid food poisoning

Always cook your meat until it is all the way done, especially chicken, pork and ground beef.

Don’t consume raw eggs. That means no eggnog or raw cookie dough!

Don’t use the same cutting board for raw meat and vegetables.

Always wash your hands after handling raw meat.

Consume only milk products that have been pasteurized.

If you’re eating at a picnic or any other function where there is a lot of food left out unheated or unrefrigerated, don’t eat any of it if it’s been sitting out longer than two hours.

Don’t eat leftovers more than 5 days old.

Wash your fruits and vegetables before you eat them.

–Magdalena

Do you have any tips to avoid food poisoning? Comment and tell us about it!

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