We get food poisoning by eating food that has bacteria in it. Lots of different bacteria cause food poisoning. Two bacteria that are common in the UK are described next.



One sort of bacteria that often causes food poisoning is called Salmonella. It can make people very ill - especially babies, old people and people who are already ill.
People can be sick, have stomach (tummy) pains and get diarrhoea (tummy upset). The illness usually lasts for about a week.

Where do you find them?

• In animals, farm animals, chickens and turkeys.
• In eggs and unpasteurised (untreated) milk.
• In rats, mice and pets.
• In people.

Stopping them

• Don't use raw eggs.
• Keep raw meat and chicken away from other food (to stop the bacteria crossing from the meat to the other food).
• Keep animals away from food.
• Keep food at the right temperature.
• Practise good personal hygiene (keep yourself clean).

These bacteria often cause food poisoning. It happens when someone who has the bacteria on their hands touches cooked food. The bacteria live in people's noses, throats and cuts or spots and get on to their hands when they pick or scratch these places. Staphylococcus bacteria are not easily killed by the heat of cooking.

People who get this type of food poisoning are sick, have stomach pains and diarrhoea for a day.

Where do you find them?

• On people - on their skin and cuts, and in the nose and throat.
• In unpasteurised milk.

Stopping them

• Teach people good personal hygiene
• Wash hands before touching food.
• Cover cuts.
• Don't sneeze or cough over food.
• Keep food in the fridge.