Had an upset stomach, diarrhea, or fever recently? Maybe it’s from something you ate. Your summer picnic basket or backyard buffet is the perfect breeding ground for food-borne bacteria. An estimated 76 million Americans get sick from food each year, and about 5,000 die from it.
Should you call your doctor if you think food made you sick? Rest and plenty of fluids are usually the best treatment, but get a doctor’s care when . . .
- Diarrhea is bloody.
- Vomiting or diarrhea is excessive.
- Three symptoms appear: stiff neck, severe headache, fever.
- A fatal illness is suspected from Clostridium botulinum or Vibrio vulnificus.
- The victim is a young child, an elderly adult, or someone with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or at high-risk for another reason.
- Symptoms persist.
To prevent picnic-time food-borne illness:
- Wash your hands often. Use a hand sanitizer at a picnic.
- Keep raw meats (in well-sealed containers) and ready-to-eat foods separate, perhaps in different picnic coolers.
- Cook to proper inside temperature. Pack a meat thermometer for safe grilling. (See January 27 for safe temperatures.)
- Keep your cooler well chilled. Keep the lid closed.
- Keep perishable food chilled. It shouldn’t sit out of the cooler for longer than one hour.
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