Food Poisoning?
Health & Nutrition|OCT 2018

The food-safe strategies mentioned food-safe strategies here can help mentioned here can help prevent prevent illness due to to contaminated food. contaminated food.

Food Poisoning?

Foodborne infections continue to be an important public health problem. E. coli bacteria are present in the intestines of people and animals, and also are found in food and water. While some strains of the bacteria are harmless, others can cause food poisoning, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.

Older adults are at greater risk of foodborne illness because their immune system wanes with age, becoming less efficient at combating bacteria. They also are more likely to take drugs that can reduce stomach acid, which is a natural defense against any bacteria we ingest. Many older adults’ sense of taste or smell can be affected by ill-health and/ or medications. The latter means they may not realize food is spoiled.

If an older adult contracts food poisoning, he or she is more likely to have a lengthier illness, undergo hospitalization, or even die. This means it is vital that you know and practice safe-food behaviours. You can best do this by following these four steps to food safety:

1 CLEAN

This story is from the OCT 2018 edition of Health & Nutrition.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the OCT 2018 edition of Health & Nutrition.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.