| Foodborne illness, more commonly known as food poisoning, can affect anyone. But certain people are particularly at risk, and should be especially careful about what they eat.
The question "Am I at risk?" is not always an easy one to answer, however, so many people may not know to avoid risky foods such as raw seafood or ready-to-eat meats. These few questions can help you find out if you are at risk. It is not meant to be a diagnostic test, but just a helpful start; for the best answer, you should talk to your doctor or other health care provider.
If you answer "yes" to one of more of the questions below, you should ask your doctor for more information about foodborne illness, including how susceptible you may be and what precautions you should take. Even if you do not answer "yes" to anything below, check out the food safety tips on our web pages -- anyone can get food poisoning and we all need to be careful!
- Are you an elderly person or a very young child?
The young and the old have weaker immune systems than others, and must take extra precautions to avoid bacteria and viruses. Elderly consumers should be particularly
cautious to avoid becoming dehydrated. Dehydration can make food poisoning worse.
- Are you pregnant?
Pregnancy changes the way your immune system functions, making it easier for you to become infected with certain microorganisms that can be transmitted by food. Also,
because your fetus is in the early stages of development, it is at greater risk for being
infected by certain bacteria transmitted by food. A fetus can become ill even without the mother experiencing any symptoms of illness.
- Do you regularly take antacids?
Antiacid changes the environment for bacteria and other microorganisms in the stomach
and intestines.
- Are you currently taking antibiotics?
Antibiotics change the way bacteria and other microorganisms act inside the body.
- Are you an alcoholic, or do you have decreased liver function due to past or current consumption of alcohol?
Decreased liver function will change the way your body responds to bacteria.
- Do you have a chronic medical condition or disease that makes you get sick easily?
Your condition may weaken your immune system, slowing down the body's natural defenses against bacteria, viruses, and other disease-causing agents in food and the environment.
- Are you recently recovering from an illness, or are you currently ill?
Your illness may have left your body weaker than normal, letting bugs invade your system more easily than they otherwise could.
Regardless of whether you are at high risk or not, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor or other health care provider about how to avoid food poisoning. And check out our food safety tips. Chances are, even if you aren't at high risk, someone around you is -- your children, your parents, your friends -- and you can help them, and yourself, eat safely, healthfully, and happily.
Would you like to do something about improving food safety for everyone? How about writing a letter to your Senators and Representatives? Click here to help out!
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