Food Contaminants

The most common symptoms of foodborne illnesses include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, possibly accompanied by fever. The symptoms may appear within a matter of hours after consumption of the affected food, but in some cases several days may elapse before onset. In order for foodborne illness to be officially declared an outbreak, it must involve two or more people who have eaten the same food, and it must be confirmed by health officials.

The severity of the illness depends on the amount of adulterated food ingested and, to a great extent, the individual’s susceptibility. Children, the elderly, and anyone whose immune system is already under siege will generally have much more difficulty than a healthy adult in combating a food-borne illness.