Food Poisoning Basics

Food poisoning, also known as a food borne illness, is one of the most painful and all-around uncomfortable illnesses that you can develop. This short-lived disease attacks the digestive system and will wreak havoc on a victim’s stomach and intestines for a few days, on average. In general, it will clear up on its own, although in certain cases, medical attention will be necessary.

You can catch food poisoning if you ingest food or beverages that have been contaminated with harmful bacteria. Contamination can occur during just about any part of the manufacturing, transportation, or storage processes. Therefore, if animal products are not thoroughly cooked (or pasteurized, in the case of milk), or if fruits are not cleaned well, consumers run the risk of catching food poisoning.

Symptoms of Food Poisoning

Though there are many different types of food poisoning, these illnesses all have the same general symptoms:

• Sharp abdominal cramping
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
• Fever and chills
• Weakness
• Headache (may result from dehydration)

Typically, food poisoning symptoms will arise a few hours after the spoiled food has been ingested. Most cases will not require any advanced medical treatment. Instead, patients are recommended to avoid solid foods and drink plenty of fluids as they wait for their body to fight off the bacteria.

Contact Us

If you have suffered the awful effects of food poisoning as the result of a restaurant or food manufacturer’s negligence, then you may have the right to recover damages. The St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers of Beltz & Ruth, P.A. can help you make a claim for compensation. To learn more, contact our firm today by calling 800-931-4369.