Food is at the heart of every holiday celebration. Families come together around the table to celebrate holiday traditions and create new memories over turkey and homemade pies, casseroles, and more festive dishes.
Unfortunately, food brings the risk of food poisoning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 48 million Americans experience a foodborne illness each year.
As you prepare for the holidays, learn how to prevent food poisoning and recognize when your symptoms warrant medical care. Whether you’re celebrating at home or traveling to visit loved ones, AFC Urgent Care Athens makes it easy to get the care you need. With convenient locations nationwide, open seven days a week with extended hours, quality medical care at AFC Urgent Care is never far away.
What is Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness, is an infection or irritation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract caused by consuming food or beverages contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins.
Those harmful microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites, are called foodborne pathogens. Some of the most common foodborne pathogens include norovirus, Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens. These microorganisms can contaminate food during preparation, handling, or storage, particularly when food is undercooked or left at unsafe temperatures throughout the holiday season.
Exposure to foodborne pathogens does not always result in illness. Our digestive system has several natural defense mechanisms that help protect against foodborne pathogens. These defenses, including stomach acid, beneficial gut bacteria, and the immune system, help prevent harmful pathogens from causing infections.
However, infants, young children, and those with weakened immune systems, are more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses and their complications.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Food poisoning symptoms vary depending on the type of foodborne pathogen responsible for the illness. Symptoms may develop within hours or several days after consuming contaminated food or beverages and can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.
If you think you might be suffering from food poisoning, these are the common signs and symptoms you may be experiencing:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea, which may be watery or bloody
- Abdominal pain and stomach cramps
- Fever and chills
- Headaches
- Fatigue and weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle aches
- Dehydration, including excessive thirst, dry mouth, dizziness, and decreased urination
When to Seek Care for Food Poisoning
Most cases of food poisoning cause mild to moderate symptoms that improve within a few days and can be managed at home with rest and proper hydration. However, persistent or worsening symptoms may require medical attention at AFC Urgent Care Athens, or even the ER, to completely remove the pathogen causing your food poisoning.
We recommend visiting our AFC Urgent Care Athens clinic if you experience any of the following symptoms, you think may be caused by food poisoning.
- Persistent Symptoms: Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal discomfort that lasts longer than 48 hours without improvement.
- High Fever: A fever above 101.5°F, especially when accompanied by other symptoms of food poisoning.
- Signs of Mild Dehydration: Dry mouth, increased thirst, dark-colored urine, or decreased urination.
However, it is important to note that if you suffer from severe abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, confusion, fainting, or signs of severe dehydration, those are signs that warrant immediate medical attention. They may necessitate a visit to the ER.
Steps to Prevent Food Poisoning During the Holidays
Cooking during the holidays is more chaotic compared to the usual, mid-week family dinner. Between entertaining guests, coordinating mealtimes, and preparing larger portions, food safety can easily be overlooked. To help prevent foodborne illness and keep your holiday celebrations safe, follow four essential food safety practices: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill.
Clean: Wash Hands, Utensils, and Surfaces Often
Harmful germs can spread from your hands, food, utensils, and kitchen surfaces, making proper cleaning key to stopping the spread of foodborne illnesses. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after handling food, and regularly clean countertops, cutting boards, and utensils with hot, soapy water. Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water, but avoid washing raw meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs, as this can spread harmful bacteria throughout your kitchen.
Separate: Don’t Cross Contaminate
Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from other foods during shopping, storage, and meal preparation. Use separate cutting boards, plates, and utensils for raw and ready-to-eat foods. Store raw meat, poultry, and seafood in sealed, leakproof containers in the refrigerator or freezer, and keep eggs in their original carton inside the refrigerator.
Cook to the Right Temperature
Cooking food to the proper internal temperature kills the harmful bacteria and prevents foodborne illness. Use a food thermometer to ensure meat, poultry, and other dishes reach safe cooking temperatures. It can be helpful to reference this chart, that provides a complete list of all safe minimum internal temperatures for foods. Also, be sure to keep prepared foods hot at 140°F or above until serving.
Chill: Refrigerate and Freeze Food Properly
Proper refrigeration helps prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying. Refrigerate perishable foods within two hours of preparation or serving (one hour if temperatures exceed 90°F) and keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below and freezer at 0°F or below. Store leftovers in shallow containers for faster cooling, thaw or marinate foods in the refrigerator rather than on the counter, and discard foods that have exceeded their recommended storage times.
Walk In Care at AFC Urgent Care Athens
The holiday season brings plenty to look forward to, but it can also mean packed schedules, travel and changing winter weather conditions, work obligations, and family gatherings over large, homemade meals. Increased stress, disrupted sleep, and changes in your normal routine can affect your immune system and may make you more suspectable to food poisoning.
By following the four essential food safety steps of cleaning, separating, cooking to the right temperature, and chilling properly, you can reduce your risk of foodborne illness for your family and enjoy your holiday celebrations with peace of mind. However, if you experience uncomfortable symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or nausea, AFC Urgent Care Athens offers convenient, walk-in care for food poisoning symptoms.
Our experienced medical providers are ready to evaluate your condition and recommend appropriate treatment. Walk in or pre-register for your visit to AFC Urgent Care Athens to get over your food poisoning symptoms and back to holiday fun with your family. If you are traveling, find the AFC Urgent Care clinic closest to you.