Bacterial Food Poisoning

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Bacterial Food Poisoning

Food borne illness is an ever-present threat that can be prevented

with proper care and handling of food products. It is estimated that

between 24 and 81 million cases of food borne diarrhea disease occur

each year in the United States, costing between $5 billion and $17

billion in medical care and lost productivity.

Chemicals, heavy metals, parasites, fungi, viruses and bacteria can

cause food borne illness. Bacteria related food poisoning is the most

common, but fewer than 20 of the many thousands of different bacteria

actually are the culprits. More than 90 percent of the cases of food

poisoning each year are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella,

Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio

parahaemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, and Entero-pathogenic Escherichia

coli. These bacteria are commonly found on many raw foods. Normally a

large number of food-poisoning bacteria must be present to cause

illness. Therefore, illness can be prevented by (1) controlling the

initial number of bacteria present, (2) preventing the small number

from growing, (3) destroying the bacteria by proper cooking and (4)

avoiding re-contamination.

Poor personal hygiene, improper cleaning of storage and preparation

areas and unclean utensils cause contamination of raw and cooked

foods. Mishandling of raw and cooked foods allows bacteria to grow.

The temperature range in which most bacteria grow is between 40

degrees F (5 degrees C) and 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). Raw and

cooked foods should not be kept in this danger zone any longer than

absolutely necessary. Undercooking or improper processing o...

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...proper pasteuriztion or cooking. cross-contamination.

Sensitive to drying or freezing. Survives in milk and water at 39 o F

for several weeks.

Versinia enterocolitica

Not frequent cause of human infection.

Poultry, beef, swine. Isolated only in human pathogen.

Milk, tofu, and pork.

Diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting. Mimics appendicitis.

Improper cooking. Cross-contamination.

Grows at refrigeration temperatures (35-40o F.) Sensitive to heat (122

oF.)

Enteropathogenic E. coli

Can produce toxins that are heat stable and others that are

heat-sensitive.

Feces of infected humans.

Meat and cheeses.

Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, no fever.

Inadequate cooking. Recontamination of cooked product.

Organisms can be controlled by heating. Can grow at refrigeration

temperatures.

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