Food poisoning is a type of gastroenteritis that occurs when a person eats food that is contaminated with bacteria or other toxic ingredients, such as E. coli, listeria or salmonella. Symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting, stomach cramping, diarrhea, chills and fever. Most of the time, food poisoning is not serious, though you may feel awful for a couple of days until you expel the contaminants from your body. Food poisoning can be avoided by taking care to cook and store foods properly.
Step 1
Wash your hands well when preparing meals, especially after working with raw meats. Even a small amount of bacteria from raw chicken or beef can contaminate other foods and lead to food poisoning. Wash cutting boards and other work surfaces thoroughly after using.
Step 2
Use a meat thermometer to ensure that poultry, beef, pork and other meats are cooked well enough to kill bacteria that can cause food-borne illnesses. Insert the thermometer at the thickest part of the meat. Chicken and turkey should reach 180 degrees F or higher to be safe; beef must read at least 160 degrees and seafood should be cooked at 140 degrees.
Step 3
Keep your refrigerator and freezer cold enough that foods will be stored safely, without the threat of growing bacteria. Temperatures of 40 degrees F or colder for a refrigerator and 0 degrees F or colder for your freezer are recommended by the National Institutes of Health.
Step 4
Store foods in airtight containers as soon as you are done serving your meal. Foods are more likely to harbor unsafe bacteria if they are not refrigerated within two hours of cooking.
Step 5
Reheat leftovers to steaming hot temperatures and serve them while they are still hot. The heat can kill any bacteria that may have formed.
Step 6
Inspect "sell by" and "use by" dates in your pantry and fridge routinely. Toss foods that have passed their expiration dates, or if they give off an unpleasant odor.
Step 7
Discontinue eating something that tastes "off." The food may not necessarily taste bad, but an item that is contaminated may not taste like what you would expect. If you are eating at a restaurant and are unsure of the kitchen's sanitary conditions, ask about food preparation processes and steps taken to avoid food poisoning.
Things You'll Need
- Meat thermometer
