Causes of Food poisoning

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The most common cause of food poisoning is Campylobacter which has been found in poultry, unpasteurised milk, red meat and untreated water. Salmonella is the next most common type and has been found in unpasteurised milk, eggs and raw egg products, meat and poultry.

There are other bacteria that produce harmful poisons in food such as Staphylococcus Aureus, Clostridium Perfringens and Bacillus Cereus. These cause mild to moderate diarrhoea.

Some types of normal intestinal bacteria can cause food poisoning. For example, E. Coli is usually harmless but particular strains such as E157 can cause severe illness, kidney failure or blood damage.

Listeria monocytogenes is another bacteria commonly found in the environment and in most foods. But too much of it in foods such as soft, mould-ripened cheeses and pÃ¢tÃ©s can cause severe illness.
Bacteria can be spread to food from the hands and from kitchen equipment. Some types of infection can be spread to other people. So when someone has food poisoning it is important that they wash their hands carefully and take extra care of their personal hygiene.

If a group of people gets infected at the same time, the local Environmental Health Office should be told. They can investigate the cause, warn the public about any likely danger and prosecute the people responsible for any breach of food safety regulations.