How to Avoid Holiday Food Poisoning

The season of holiday dinners and brunches, company parties, and dining at restaurants draped in festive white lights is upon us. Turkey, egg nog, pumpkin pie, the seven fishes …really, even though it can be a bustling time, unless you’re the Grinch, there’s much to enjoy.

Food poisoning, however, could put an unfortunate cramp (pardon the pun) on the festivities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 76 million incidents of food poisoning occurs in the United States annually, resulting in 325,000 hospitalizations, and up to 5,000 deaths each year. And while many people start experiencing symptoms 2 to 6 hours after eating the tainted food, it’s possible for weeks to pass before food poison related illness occurs.

So, what causes food poisoning? Infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites and toxic agents, like pesticides or poisonous mushrooms. Salmonella is one of the more widely known bacteria involved in food poisoning and is often found in eggs (hence, the warning not to eat raw cookie dough or cake batter) or undercooked meat. A lack of proper sanitation or poor preparation, including food workers not washing their hands thoroughly, can introduce pathogens to foods. Also food contaminated through poor storage, such as inadequate refrigeration, can be the culprit.

Next: 5 tips to prevent food poisoning

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Joe R.

8:33AM PST on Dec 7, 2011

Good reminders.

send a green star

Shelagh I.

12:22PM PST on Nov 16, 2011

Or I got a better idea, why not just eat vegan pies, vegan meats, and vegan eggnogs and you don't have to worry about any of this crap OR a guilty conscience about horrifying cruelty in slaughterhouses.

8:08PM PDT on Jun 7, 2011

Ever try fasting through the holiday season.

I made it for a couple of hours once. lol

Raquel G.

1:42PM PST on Jan 31, 2011