Food poisoning
Food poisoning
Food poisoning happens when you eat food that's contaminated, usually with bacteria or a virus such as:
- campylobacter, the most common cause of food poisoning
- salmonella
- Escherichia coli (E. coli)
- norovirus
- listeria
- shigella
It's usually nothing serious, and most people feel better within a few days without any treatment.
Common Symptoms
Emergency Warning Signs
Phone 999 or go to the nearest hospital's emergency department right away if you or your child:
- vomit blood, or the vomit looks like ground coffee
- have vomit that is yellow-green or green
- may have swallowed something poisonous
- have a stiff neck along with pain when looking at bright lights
- have a sudden, severe headache or stomach ache
- have skin, lips or tongue that look blue, grey, pale or blotchy (on brown or black skin, this is often easier to notice on the palms or the soles of the feet)
- are struggling badly to breathe, or are taking many quick, short breaths
- seem confused or are not responding the way they normally would
Call your doctor or go in for an urgent check-up if you or your child:
- show signs of severe dehydration, such as ongoing dizziness, passing only a small amount of urine, or none at all
- keep vomiting and cannot keep any fluids or feeds down
- have diarrhoea with blood in it
- have had diarrhoea for more than 7 days, or vomiting for more than 2 days
- have come back from a place with poor sanitation in the past few weeks
- have a condition such as kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or a weakened immune system, and now have diarrhoea and vomiting
What to do if you have food poisoning
If you or your child have food poisoning, it is best to stay home until you feel better. There is also a lot you can do at home to ease the symptoms and recover more comfortably.
Helpful things to do
- rest as much as you can
- drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, taking small sips of water at a time
- ask your pharmacist about a rehydration drink if you notice signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth or dark urine
- eat once you feel ready, starting with small, light meals
- choose bland foods like toast, crackers, banana and rice until you feel better, and avoid fatty or spicy food
- keep feeding babies as usual, with breast milk or other milk feeds; if they are being sick, offer smaller feeds more often than usual
- for babies on formula or solids, offer small sips of water between feeds
- stay off school or work until you have had no vomiting or diarrhoea for at least 2 days
- try to limit close contact with people who are more vulnerable, such as young children or elderly family members
- wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and warm water, especially after using the toilet and before handling food
- disinfect surfaces or objects that may be contaminated, ideally with a bleach based household cleaner
- wash any soiled clothing or bedding separately on a hot wash
- flush away stool or vomit in the toilet and clean the area around it well
Things to avoid
- avoid alcohol, caffeine, fruit juice or fizzy drinks, as these can make diarrhoea worse
- do not dilute baby formula; prepare it at its usual strength
- do not give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea
- do not give aspirin to children under 16
- if possible, avoid preparing food for others while you are infected
- do not depend on alcohol based hand gels alone, as they do not always work well enough
- avoid sharing towels, face cloths, cutlery or utensils while you are unwell
Please do not include personal information such as your name, location or any personal health conditions.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
You or your child:
- vomit blood or have vomit that looks like ground coffee
- have yellow-green or green vomit
- may have swallowed something poisonous
- have a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
- have a sudden, severe headache or stomach ache
- have blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- are having severe difficulty breathing, or taking lots of quick, short breaths
- are confused or not responding as usual
Phone 111 or contact your GP practice urgently if:
You or your child:
- have symptoms of severe dehydration, like persistent dizziness, only passing small amounts of urine or no urine at all
- are vomiting constantly and are unable to keep down any fluids or feeds
- have bloody diarrhoea
- have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days
- have returned from a part of the world with poor sanitation in the past few weeks
- have a condition like kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or a weak immune system, and have diarrhoea and vomiting
What to do if you have food poisoning
If you or your child have food poisoning, stay at home until you’re feeling better.
There are things you or your child can do at home to help ease symptoms.
Do
- get plenty of rest
- drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration – take small sips of water
- speak to your pharmacist about using a rehydration drink if you have signs of dehydration like a dry mouth or dark urine
- eat when you feel up to it – try small, light meals
- eat bland foods like toast, crackers, banana and rice until you feel better – avoid foods that are fatty or spicy
- feed babies as usual, either with breast milk or other milk feeds – if they’re being sick, try giving small feeds more often than usual
- give babies on formula or solid foods small sips of water between feeds
- stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days
- try to keep contact with vulnerable people to a minimum, for example the very young or elderly
- wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, particularly after using the toilet and before preparing food
- disinfect any surfaces or objects that could be contaminated – it’s best to use a bleach-based household cleaner
- wash contaminated items of clothing or bedding separately on a hot wash
- flush away any poo or vomit in the toilet and clean the surrounding area
Don’t
- do not have alcohol, caffeine, fruit juice or fizzy drinks – they can make diarrhoea worse
- do not make baby formula weaker – use it at its usual strength
- do not give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea
- do not give aspirin to children under 16
Read further information about treating dehydration
- do not prepare food for other people when you’re infected, if possible
- do not rely on alcohol hand gels, as they’re not always effective
- do not share towels, flannels, cutlery or utensils while you are ill
Don’t include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions.
Causes
What causes food poisoning?
Food poisoning happens when you eat something contaminated with harmful germs. Almost any type of food can cause it.
Food can become contaminated if it is:
- not cooked or reheated properly
- stored the wrong way (for example, not kept frozen or chilled as needed)
- left out for too long at room temperature
- handled by someone who is sick or hasn't washed their hands
- eaten after its "use by" date has passed
Further information on preparing and cooking food safely
Prevention
How to prevent food poisoning if you're already ill