Infections from Food

There are microbes in and on food.  Most of them are harmless.  We even have microbes in our intestines to help us digest food.  There are some dangerous microbes that can get into our food.  If you eat foods with these microbes growing in them, you can become sick with vomiting and diarrhea.    Freezing and cooking food will usually kill the microbes or stop them from growing.  Foods should always be stored at the right temperature.  Some foods, like milk, eggs, meat, poultry, fish and mayonnaise, need special attention with cooking and storing in order to prevent infection.

To keep from getting an infection from your food, you should follow these rules:

1. Don’t eat food that looks moldy, has changed color, or smells bad.
2. Don’t leave leftovers on the table after a meal.  Put them back in the refrigerator right away especially in the summer time.  The cooler temperatures inside the refrigerator will slow the growth of bacteria.
3. Don’t take meat or meat sandwiches in a sack lunch unless the meat is kept cold.
4. Don’t eat canned food if the can was bulging before you opened it.
5. Make sure you wash your hands well before you handle food, fix a meal, set the table, or eat.

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Infections from Food