More people than ever are being hospitalised with salmonella infections (Picture: Getty Images)
Stomach cramps, nausea and rushing to the loo – most of us have had a brush with a nasty bout of food poisoning, but now more serious cases are on the rise across the UK.
Hospital admissions from salmonella are at an all time high, with 1,468 admissions linked to the bacteria recorded between April 2022 and April 2023.
Hospital visits for E. coli and campylobacter, which are commonly spread through uncooked meat, are also on the rise.
In December, at least 30 people contracted E.coli in an outbreak linked to Mrs Kirkham cheese which killed one person, and Public Health Wales launched an investigation after an outbreak of salmonella in Wrexham last summer.
And for some, food poisoning can turn into something much more than a dodgy stomach.
When Lizzi Jordan grabbed some fast food on her way home from a uni night out in 2017, she didn’t know that the meal was going to change her life forever.
The food she ate contained a rare strain of E.coli which left the then-19-year-old in a coma for two months.
Lizzi Jordan got sick after eating fast food on a night out (Picture: Lizzi Jordan)
She suffered multiple organ failure and doctors warned her parents that she might not pull through.
She survived the coma, but she lost her eyesight as a result of the incident, which she said left her at ‘rock bottom’.
Now Jordan is hoping to join the GB para-cycling team at this year’s Paralympics in Paris.
David Miller, 43, almost died after eating a chicken bhuna from his favourite Indian takeaway in London.
David Miller was left unable to walk after a stomach bug (Picture: David Miller / SWNS)
The food poisoning developed into an auto-immune disease that left him unable to breathe.
The grueling ordeal left the father of two paralysed and he was hospitalised.
Miller, who now lives in Lincolnshire, thankfully made a full recovery.
What’s behind the rise in food poisoning cases – and can anything be done about it?
Slipping food standards
In January, the Food Standards Agency issued a warning following a rise in food poisoning linked to some imported products.
In one recent outbreak, more than 200 people became ill with salmonella infections linked to poultry and egg product from Poland.
Uncooked chicken can be contaminated with salmonella bacteria(Picture: Getty Images)
James Mottershead, the NFU Poultry Chair, said it was ‘deeply concerning to hear that poultry products produced outside of the UK are being imported from countries where salmonella cases are on the rise.’
Tina Potter, head of incidents at the Food Standards Agency, said that a number of the cases were linked to the contaminated products being used in meals in restaurants and cafes.
‘As a result, the FSA is asking local authorities to remind food businesses about the importance of good hygiene practices,’ she said.
New checks on food imported from the EU have been delayed five times following industry disputes. They are due to be introduced in April.
Cost of living cuts
In 2022, a food bank in Cornwall warned that children were getting food poisoning because parents were turning off fridges at night to save money on electricity bills.
When it comes to eating out, a squeeze on local authority budgets and a worker shortage could explain some food poisoning cases.
Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese was urgently recalled over E.coli fears (Picture: Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese)
The number of food standards officers has fallen by 45% in the last decade, leaving the sector stretched thin.
A survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) found that 81% of foods tested met regulatory requirements. These requirements include allergens, contaminants and incorrect labelling.
What causes food poisoning and what are the symptoms?
People get food poisoning when they eat something that contains harmful germs.
Symptoms include nausea, diarrhoea, vomitting, stomach cramps and a high temperature.
Symptoms can appear a few hours after eating a contaminated food. However, they might not start until a few weeks after.
Contamination usually occurs when food is not cooked, reheated or stored properly.
The worst foods that cause food poisoning
Bagged salad. Excess water and juices from salad leaves can create a breeding ground for bad bacteria, according to microbiologist Primrose Freestone. ‘My research group has found that these pathogens grow more than a thousand times better when given juices from salad leaves, even if the salad bag is refrigerated,’ she said. Experts advise that you eat bagged salad on the day that you buy it.
Rice. Bacillus cereus spores can grow into bacteria if cooked rice is left out at room temperature.
Unpasterised milk and cheese. Raw milk has been touted as a superfood, but the Food Standards Agency has warned that it ‘may contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning’.
Campylobacter and norovirus are the most common foodborne pathogens in the UK. There are 380,000 cases of norovirus linked to food each year.
According to research by the FSA, 37% of all foodborne norovirus cases comes from eating out at restaurants and cafes. Unwashed salad can also pose a risk, with 30% of norovirus cases linked to lettuce on sale in supermarkets.
Salmonella infections can be caused when someone eats undercooked chicken, eggs and unpasterised milk, while E.coli is usually spread through raw meat contamination.
Listeria is a bacteria that causes listeriosis. It’s most commonly found in ready-to-eat foods like cold pre-cooked meats and pre-prepared sandwiches.