In the UK alone, about a million people suffer from foodborne illnesses each year, of which 20,000 require hospital treatment and 500 die.

A foodborne illness, often known as food poisoning, is an infection or gastrointestinal irritation caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or beverages. This is usually an acute condition that appears out of the blue and goes away within a few days. It is typically caused by hazardous chemicals, bacteria, viruses or parasites. Even while the majority of patients recover without the need for medical intervention, certain situations may worsen or take longer to resolve.

Now let’s look at what other actions we can follow to minimise the risks of foodborne illness.

Click on the pictures below for more information.

Let’s do a little experiment — let’s see what happens if food items are not stored properly. What do you think happens to food if you leave it for too long?

Look at the yucky time-lapse videos below to see some food items rotting away!

You can easily do your own “mouldy bread experiment” — at school or at home in your own kitchen (with permission by the owners of the kitchen!).

Find the instructions in our “Home Experiments” section!

So what does a foodborne illness feel like?

See below common symptoms of ‘food poisoning’. They usually start within a few hours or days of eating contaminated food, and can last for up to a week.

• Feeling sick (nausea): An uncomfortable feeling in the back of your throat or an uneasiness in your stomach. You may also feel dizzy, lightheaded or have difficulty swallowing. Nausea often goes along with the urge to vomit but doesn't always lead to vomiting

• Being sick (vomiting): When the contents of your stomach rise up your food pipe (gullet, or oesophagus), and you 'throw up'.

• Diarrhoea: Defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day (or more frequent passage than is normal for the individual).

• Stomach cramps: A sudden, uncontrolled, tight feeling in the muscles of your stomach

• High temperature (fever): When your body temperature is 38°C or higher

• Feeling generally unwell: Such as feeling tired or having aches and chills

Common organisms often associated with food poisoning

Click on the photos to find out more!

Test what you have learned about hygiene and handling food by doing a little quiz. 🤓