Are you sure that all the food you eat is healthy? We can not see the germs present in the food we eat so we are not aware of what they carry. There are food borne illnesses that are brought by contaminated food and drinks. These are caused by bacteria, parasites and viruses present on the food we eat. These bacteria are not visibly seen by our naked eyes. Bacteria under a microscope can show us the harmful effect of these bacteria to the food we eat. Food borne illnesses can also be from harmful chemicals that are found in the food we eat and the beverage we drink. These harmful chemicals are contaminated during harvesting or processing. Food borne diseases can be in the form of stomach upset, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps and even dehydration. According to the centers for disease control and prevention, there are about 76 million people in the US who became victims of the pathogens from these food borne bacteria and about 5,000 of them die every year.

The bad bacteria are the most common cause of these food borne illnesses. These bacteria are seen clearly under a microscope. The structure and the harmful effect of bacteria can be identified through a microscope. These bacteria are already present on the food we purchase and we are not aware of their existence until we experience the harmful effect such as getting sick. The most common source of these diseases is from the raw food we buy in the market because they are susceptible to contamination. Raw meat and poultry are the most common raw food that is contaminated during slaughter. Seafood and eggs can are also contaminated during harvesting and processing. Fruits and vegetables can also be contaminated with salmonella or E. coli. The contamination of these fruits and vegetables might be from the growing, harvesting, processing, storing, shipping or the final preparation.

We are not aware that even cooked foods that are left for more than two hours can attract more bacteria and can multiply quickly over a short period of time. These bacteria are not easily detected because they do not produce foul odor not change the appearance of the food. When we refrigerate food, the process only slows down the growth of bacteria but does not kill the bacteria. These bacteria are revived when the food is thawed.  The food needed to be thoroughly cooked to destroy the bacteria present on the food.

Because food borne illnesses are from the food we eat so the most common symptoms are abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and dehydration. These food borne illnesses pose greater risk on young children, pregnant women and older adults because they have weaker immune system. There are also some complications that can cause serious infections such as abortion and death and they are caused by these micro organisms such as listeria monocytogenes and clostridium botulinium.  E. coli can also cause the disease called Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and this can lead to kidney infection and sometimes death. HUS usually affects children from ages 1-10. This disease can be from contaminated food and beverages, undercooked beef, contaminated water and even contact with infected person can cause this disease. Children must be observed of the symptoms of HUS. The most common symptoms of HUS are diarrhea which can be bloody, vomiting and abdominal pains. The development of HUS is from 5 to 10 days and this disease can last up to 15 days and can be considered as fatal.

The other symptoms of HUS are fever, lethargy and paleness and this also leads to renal failure. Acute renal failure can cause kidney not able to remove the waste products from the blood and unable to transform them into urine. It is advised that the child should see a doctor if he is experiencing diarrhea for the past 3 days with fever, blood in stools, vomiting, dehydration and shallow breathing. These food borne diseases are diagnosed through laboratory testing and by studying the bacteria under a microscope. Diagnostic test of these bacteria can also suggest cure for the bacterial toxins, viruses and parasites in the body. Some food borne disease can be cured by water therapy or increased fluid intake, but serious cases need medical treatment such as hospitalization.

Prevention is still the best cure for food borne illnesses. To prevent food contamination, food should be cooked properly and must be kept in clean area. Clean foods before you refrigerate them to avoid growth of bacteria. Other cure can be from food irradiation which is in the form of gamma rays and electron beams that kills loving bacteria to prevent food borne illnesses. Food irradiation is used for wheat, potatoes, spices, pork, poultry, fresh fruits and other dehydrated products. According to scientists who study food borne diseases, these food borne pathogens are also caused of chronic diseases that can permanently destroy or organs. They also studied that these food borne illnesses trigger chronic health conditions. These serious health conditions are arthritis, bowel diseases, kidney failure and autoimmune disorders.

Study shows the sources of food borne illnesses, the symptoms and the bacteria that caused these diseases. Raw and undercooked meat and poultry causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and the bacteria present are campylobacter jejuni, e.coli, monocytogenes and salmonella. Unpasteurized milk and dairy products like soft cheese causes nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea which are from the bacteria listeria monocytogenes, salmonella, shigella, staphylococcus aureus, and c. jejuni. Raw and undercooked eggs that are used when we make salad dressing, cake icing and ice cream can cause nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea if contaminated with salmonella enteriditis. Shellfish that are raw and undercooked with the bacteria vibrio vulnificus, vibrio parahaemolyticus can cause shills, fever and can make the person collapse.

Canned goods and smoked or salted fish can also pose threat if C. botulinium is present, symptoms of this can cause double vision, difficulty in swallowing, speaking and breathing. If the following symptoms are experienced it is advised to seek medical help immediately. Contaminated water can cause bloody diarrhea, nausea and vomiting because of the presence of e.coli, monocytogenes, salmonella, shigella, yersinia entercolotica, viruses and parasites. To prevent these food borne diseases from attacking us, we need to keep the food clean all the time. Prevention is still the best cure. Read more on this topic