Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food or drink. The contamination can be due to bacteria, viruses, or other harmful substances in the food or beverage. Symptoms of food poisoning usually start within hours or several days of eating the contaminated food and can last for a few hours or several days. The most common symptoms of food poisoning include:

• Upset stomach
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain and cramps
• Nausea
• Fever

In severe cases, food poisoning can cause complications such as kidney damage, meningitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), arthritis, brain and nerve damage, and even death. Anyone can get food poisoning, but some groups of people are more likely to get sick and have a more serious illness, including adults aged 65 and older, children younger than age 5, and people whose immune systems are weakened by health conditions or medicine used to treat them.

To prevent food poisoning, it is important to handle and prepare food safely. This includes washing hands and surfaces often, separating raw meat from other foods, cooking food to the right temperature, and refrigerating food promptly. If you suspect that you have food poisoning, it is important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and to see a doctor if you have severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, diarrhea that lasts more than three days, or vomiting that leads to dehydration.