The following organisms are the most often implicated causes of
food borne illness. The name of the organism is a link to further
information.
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of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to
people with disabilities.
This organism causes two forms of illness: emetic and diarrheal. The onset of emetic
disease is from one-half hour to 5 hours. The main symptoms are nausea and vomiting.
Diarrhea may occur. The diarrheal form has an onset of 8 to 16 hours. The main foods
implicated are fried rice, boiled rice, cereal products, puddings, sauces, vegetables and
meatloaf.
Campylobacteriosis has an onset of 2 to 10 days with a 3 to 5 average. The symptoms
include bloody, foul-smelling diarrhea, achy, fever, anorexia and abdominal cramps. The
foods most commonly causing illness are raw or undercooked poultry, unpasteurized milk,
raw or undercooked seafood, beef liver and untreated water.
Onset is 9 to 15 hours with diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps. Meat
products are a major cause if left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Stews,
gravies, meat pies, roasts, meat products and poultry.
The onset of this organism is 3 to 4 days and the symptoms can be rather severe
including bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting. This organism can
cause HUS and lead to kidney failure and death. The most implicated food has been raw and
undercooked hamburger meat. Other foods are unpasteurized milk, very rare roast beef and
unpasteurized apple juice.
This organism is found in the environment making it a prime bug to get into food in the
processing plant. It has been found in raw and processed meat (hot dogs, luncheon meats),
raw seafood, cole slaw, soft cheese, unpasteurized milk and cheese made from unpasteurized
milk. The onset can be from several days to 2 to 6 weeks. Symptoms include fever, chills,
headache, vomiting, diarrhea, meningitis, and spontaneous abortion.
Salmonellosis is probably the best known illness from food. The average onset of
symptoms is 12 to 36 hours although it can be as early as 6 hours or as long as 72 hours.
The symptoms include stomach pain, diarrhea, watery stools, nausea, chills, fever,
headache and occasionally the diarrhea may be bloody. The following foods have caused
Salmonellosis: raw or undercooked meats, poultry and eggs (the yolks), unpasteurized milk,
fruits, vegetables, coconuts, yeast, smoked fish, dry milk and chocolate candy.
Shigellosis which is uncommon in developed countries can be caused by cold mixed salads
(potato, egg, macaroni, tuna, shrimp), meat, dairy products, vegetables, apple cider,
contaminated water and ice. Onset is 1 to 6 days and the symptoms are stomach cramps,
vomiting, diarrhea, fever, bloody diarrhea.
Foods such as cooked ham, poultry, salads, cream-filled pastries, meat products, potato
salad, dressing, sauces & gravies, cheese, fish salad and bread pudding have caused Staphylococcus
aureus food poisoning. The onset is anywhere from 1 to 8 hours and the following
symptoms are typical stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, headaches,
dizziness and weakness.
The sudden onset of profuse watery diarrhea (often called rice-water stools) is typical
of this illness with this organism as are abdominal pain and rapid dehydration. The onset
is 2 to 3 days and the foods implicated are raw mussels, shrimp, fish, cucumbers, mixed
and moist foods, or foods washed with contaminated water.
This strain is does not cause as severe a disease as the O1 strain. The onset is the
same and the symptoms are watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting,
dehydration. Pickled herring and shellfish have been implicated.
Warm-water shellfish (such as those from the Gulf of Mexico), raw fish, raw marine
foods, saltwater fish, mollusks, crustaceans, fish products, cucumbers, salty foods from
cross-contamination. The onset of illness is 12 hours with symptoms ranging from mild to
severe watery diarrhea with nausea and vomiting.
This species of Vibrio is the most dangerous, especially to compromised
patients. The onset is anywhere from 1 hour to 1 week. The symptoms include chills, fever,
skin lesions (from open skin in the marine environment). The disease may progress to
septicemia which may be fatal in 6 hours. Septicemia is fatal in 50% of the cases.
Yersiniosis is not common but it does mimic appendicitis which leads to
unnecessary appendectomies. It also causes acute abdominal pain, fever, headache and
diarrhea. Onset is form 24 to 36 hours or longer. Typically associated is unpasteurized
milk, dry milk, soil, water and animals (pigs).