If you regularly take a chance on food—say, an iffy room-temperature burger—you’ve probably paid the price with food poisoning once or twice. And, if you’re firmly in the “risk it and eat the burger” camp, you’re not alone: About 48 million people in the U.S. have food poisoning each year, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK). Although the pathogens that cause food poisoning are best known for lurking in food left out too long, handled improperly, or contaminated during processing, you can also get this gut-wrenching illness from another person. So the answer to your burning question (Is food poisoning contagious?) is yes, the bugs that can cause food poisoning are contagious.
While you can’t avoid all possible food poisoning scenarios, there are things you can do to reduce your risk. Because trust us, when we say gut-wrenching, we mean forceful bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, or both at the same time (a situation you want to avoid at all costs).
What is food poisoning?
Food poisoning and foodborne illness are often used interchangeably but, if we’re splitting hairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) points out that foodborne illness technically can encompass allergens that are consumed and cause allergic reactions. On the other hand, food poisoning is a form of foodborne illness that occurs only when you consume specific toxins.
The contamination process can happen at any point during processing or production. It can also happen at home if you’re not handling food correctly or if you eat uncooked or undercooked food. The biggest culprits of food poisoning seem to be infectious organisms (including parasites, fungi, viruses, and bacteria) or their toxins, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some common food culprits include raw fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, poultry, and seafood.
Is food poisoning contagious?
“Yes, food poisoning can be contagious,” Chantal Strachan, MD, an internist at ColumbiaDoctors and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, tells SELF. More specifically, she says, norovirus, a common cause of food poisoning, is very contagious. “You can become infected from eating contaminated foods and from exposure to bodily fluids (diarrhea or vomit) of an infected person, which is why these outbreaks can be common in densely populated areas like cruise ships or day cares,” Dr. Strachan says. She also says E. Coli and Salmonella are common bacterial causes, with Salmonella being very contagious (generally from fecal matter getting into your mouth). These are typically found in things like ground beef (particularly E.Coli), and contaminated egg yolks, milk, and poultry (looking at you, Salmonella).
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How is food poisoning different from a stomach bug?
Both food poisoning and the stomach bug, also called viral gastroenteritis, can wreak havoc on your G.I. system—with symptoms like stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever—but there are some key differences worth noting. One is that a virus is responsible for the stomach flu (not actually influenza though, so it’s a bit confusing), while bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other toxins are responsible for the various types of food poisoning. Food poisoning symptoms can also vary in severity and may take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to develop symptoms after ingesting contaminated food or drink, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The dreaded stomach bug wreaks havoc on your intestines, and in addition to the symptoms mentioned above may also include mild muscle aches. This bug tends to surface one to three days after you’re infected, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Recovering from both a stomach bug and food poisoning often requires rest and hydration. Occasionally, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for certain kinds of bacterial food poisoning, especially if your symptoms are severe. For example, listeria may need treatment with intravenous antibiotics and hospitalization, according to the Mayo Clinic. Since the stomach bug is a virus, antibiotics will not help.
How long does each last?
The stomach bug moves fast and furious, with symptoms generally appearing one to three days after infection and lasting for a day or two. However, some people get hit hard and may deal with symptoms for up to 14 days, per the Mayo Clinic.
Food poisoning is generally short-lived, with symptoms surfacing within a few hours to several days and lasting only a day or two, depending on the cause of food poisoning. On occasion, some illnesses lead to hospitalization, especially in high-risk individuals like older adults, pregnant people, children under five years old, and people with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC.
Source: SELF
