Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Food Safety Hazards

Bacteria that can cause food poisoning

Microbial agents are associated with acute and chronic diseases in human beings. These microbes or micro-organisms may come from animals, the environment or human beings. Bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, E. coli O157:H7 may come from animals and can be directly transmitted as foodborne infection to human beings.

Salmonella
Salmonellosis
Incubation : Usually 12 to 36 hours, or could be up to 72 hours.
Symptoms : Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, mild fever, chills, dehydration, prostration, anorexia, nausea and vomiting. These normally last a few days. Septicaemia may occur. Meat, poultry, eggs and their products. Other incriminated food include coconut, smoked fish, milk powder.

Campylobacter
Campylobacteriosis I
ncubation : 1 to 7 days
Symptoms : Diarrhoea (stool often foul smelling, bile stained, watery, mucoid or bloody), abdominal pain, fever, anorexia, headache, nausea. Duration 1 to 5 days. Poultry, raw milk

Listeria monocytogenes
Listeriosis
Incubation : Unknown incubation period. Probably 3 to 4 weeks.
Symptoms : Fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, monocytosis, meningitis, abortion. Widespread in the environment and can be found in raw milk, cheeses (particularly soft cheeses) raw vegetables, raw and processed meat products.

Vibrio cholerae
Gastroenteritis
Incubation : 12 to 24 hours, but can range from 4 to 96 hours.
Symptoms : Watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain in most cases and sometimes fever, headache, nausea. Contaminated water, fish and shellfish.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Gastroenterititis
Incubation : 12-24 hours, but can range from 4-96 hours.
Symptoms : Watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain in most cases and someones fever, headache, nausea. Contaminated water, fish and shellfish.

E. coli O157:H7
Haemorrhagic colitis which may progress into haemolytic uraemic syndrome Incubation : Usually 3-4 days but can range from 12 hours to 8 days.
Symptoms : Severe stomachache and diarrhoea, which is initially watery but becomes grossly bloody. Occasionally vomiting occurs. Fever is either low-grade or absent, kidney problems may eventually arise resulting in death. Contaminated beef, raw milk and other foods such as vegetables and cheese.

taken from: www.ava.gov.sg


she's full (: | 10:34 PM|

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