Is there any way to tell beforehand if you will get food poisoning from a meal?
I was watching the news and saw an entire family of young kids on a road trip dying from food poisoning after they had stopped to grab lunch at a small diner. Could they have known this would happen within the first few bites?
Best Answer
While our senses can warn us of some potential problems, there are many pathogens that we can't detect by smelling, tasting, or feeling. So, no, you generally can't tell from a bite or two of food. Alternately, if you know how an establishment stores, processes, and prepares the food you are about to consume, you could probably make some meaningful assumptions about the safety of the food your are going to eat. You are always taking a risk when you don't know how food was prepared and handled. The risk may be very small most of the time, but sometimes even the finest restaurants in the world serve food that has been compromised.
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How many hours before you know you have food poisoning?
Symptoms begin 6 to 24 hours after exposure: Diarrhea, stomach cramps. Usually begins suddenly and lasts for less than 24 hours. Vomiting and fever are not common.Can you get food poisoning immediately after eating something?
The time it takes food poisoning symptoms to start can vary. Illness often starts in about 1 to 3 days. But symptoms can start any time from 30 minutes to 3 weeks after eating contaminated food. The length of time depends on the type of bacteria or virus causing the illness.Is there a way to stop food poisoning before it starts?
Stop eating and drinking for a few hours. Try sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water. You might also try drinking clear soda, clear broth or noncaffeinated sports drinks. You might also try oral rehydration solutions if you have severe dehydration symptoms or diarrhea.Will a person know right away if they have food poisoning?
Signs and symptoms may start within hours after eating the contaminated food, or they may begin days or even weeks later. Sickness caused by food poisoning generally lasts from a few hours to several days.Here's What To Do If You Get Food Poisoning
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