Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
Food poisoning is a disease that is carried or transmitted to humans by contaminated foods or beverages.
Food poisoning is caused by substances in foods or beverages, including:
Infants and the elderly are at increased risk for food poisoning. Other factors that increase your chances of getting food poisoning include:
After you consume the contaminated food or beverage, there is a delay before symptoms arise. This delay is called an incubation period. It can last hours or weeks. Symptoms include:
You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. If you have some of the food that you think made you sick, you may be asked to bring it in to be tested.
Your bodily fluids may be tested. This can be done with:
Most types of food poisoning improve in 12-48 hours. There aren't many treatments available to speed your recovery from food poisoning.
Drink plenty of fluids. If you are severely ill, you may need IV fluids.
Some types of bacterial food poisoning can be treated with antibiotics.
This includes the following:
If you have botulism poisoning, there is an antitoxin you can take.
To help prevent food poisoning:
American Gastroenterological Association
Gateway to Government Information About Food Safety
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education
Food poisoning. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/food-poisoning.html. Updated April 2014. Accessed December 22, 2014.
Food poisoning. FoodSafety.gov website. Available at: http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/index.html. Accessed December 22, 2014.
Food poisoning. Kids Health—Nemours Foundation website. Available at: http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/food_poisoning.html. Updated March 2012. Accessed December 22, 2014.
Last reviewed December 2014 by Michael Woods, MD
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