How Long Does It Take Food Poisoning To Set In (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 6 to 24 Hours

Food poisoning, also called food-borne sickness, is caused by eating contaminated food. Infectious organisms like bacteria, viruses, and parasites release their toxins that lead to food poisoning. These contaminating organisms and their toxins can infect food at any time of its making or processing. Contamination is also possible at home if the food is clumsily managed or prepared, also not cooked thoroughly.

Food poisoning symptoms can start within hours of eating contaminated food, include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Numerous times, food poisoning is moderate and recovers without the need for treatment. But some people might need to visit the hospital.

How Long Does It Take Food Poisoning To Set In?

When someone gets ill from contaminated food by pathogenic elements, referred to as food poisoning. Some symptoms of food poisoning cause vomiting, stomach spasms, and temporary diarrhea, while others can be fatal, specifically for young children and the aged. There are 250 different kinds of food poisoning documented, but the most common is E. Coli, listeria, salmonella, and norovirus.

E. coli can contaminate meat during processing. If the infected meat has not been cooked thoroughly up to 160°F, the bacteria has the potential to survive and infect humans when they consume the meat. It can contaminate dairy products, so one must purchase pasteurized items only. Raw fruits and vegetables that had contact with infected animal feces, also E. coli sometimes get into lakes, pools, and water supplies through human or animal feces. People can become infected in these situations.

Listeria is a sickness caused by eating foods contaminated by a bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria infection, also known as listeriosis, is rare, but it can be fatal in the elderly and people with weak immune systems. It can be threatening to pregnant women and their unborn babies. Spreads from ready-to-eat seafood or raw seafood, fruits and vegetable salads that are pre-packaged, deli meat, and dips and sauces.

Norovirus is contagious and spreads through contaminated food or water during the preparation or through pre-contaminated surfaces. One can get infected by close contact with an infected person. It infects most commonly in closed and congested environments such as nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships.

Salmonella is a bacteria that infects and affects the intestinal tract. They exist in animal and human intestines and are dropped through feces. Humans get infected by consuming contaminated food or water. Most healthy people recover within a few days without specific treatment showing no symptoms.

Why Does It Take That Long For Food Poisoning To Set In?

There are more than 250 types of food poisoning with similar symptoms, but the time of recovery varies depending on what substance caused the contamination, how much of it you ingested, and the severity of the symptoms.

The duration between the ingestion of contaminated food and the first sign of symptoms can be one hour or even up to three weeks. This very much depends on the reason for the contamination. For example, symptoms of a bacterial infection associated with undercooked pork might appear within four to seven days after consuming the contaminated food. But upon average, food poisoning symptoms will occur within two to six hours after eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

There are simple practices one can follow to reduce the risk of food poisoning. One should take steps to prevent the food from being manifested or contaminated by pathogens and stop the pathogens in the food from spreading and propagating. Food poisoning bacteria can reproduce very quickly, especially in favorable conditions. Pregnant women, young kids, the aged, and those with a precursor illness are more prone to food poisoning.

One must take caution when cooking, stocking, or serving food, particularly possibly high-risk foods. Check up with a doctor as soon as possible if anyone experiences symptoms of food poisoning.

Conclusion

Food poisoning can occur if someone eats food contaminated by toxins released by pathogens. The symptoms might show up within a few days or weeks, or even months. Someone with food poisoning might be suffering from tummy pain, diarrhea, nauseousness, and fever. Usually, one can recover in a few days or weeks without the requirement for medical treatment at all.

References

1. https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM195311122492005
2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10408448609023767?journalCode=itxc19