Chicken with salmonella, contaminated blueberries or E. coli in your lettuce: sometimes so many people get sick that a product is recalled. When should you sit out your stomach ache? And when is it wise to call the doctor?
The cause is not always clear with abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea. But if you open your news app and see that the chicken that you have just eaten is recalled, then you may know enough.
It may seem as if there is Listeria in the cheese, Salmonella on the Chicken or E. coli in the bean sprouts. Yet that is not the case, says Arts in training infectious disease control Daphne Fioole of GGD Haaglanden. We have very good food safety in the Netherlands and few outbreaks.
A food infection is a general term, she explains. You can get such an infection through contaminated food. The contamination can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other complaints. It is very common and the course of the disease is often innocent.
In most cases, someone with a food infection suffers from abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting for a few days. But Fioole advises going to the doctor if it really takes a long time, if there is blood in the stool or if you fall into a risk group.
This is how a recall starts
With the GGDs, alarm bells start ringing when general practitioners make a striking number of reports that do not fit within the pattern, Fioole explains. “Some diseases are subject to reporting, such as Hepatitis A. They can make someone quite sick. Such an outbreak is rare, which is why the incident with the blueberries in January was also such big news.”
Then it is tested and considered whether this also plays in other regions. Patients are then called with questions such as what complaints do you have exactly, when did they start, what did you eat and drink? “If they mention one particular product strikingly often, we will call in the NVWA.”
Many diseases are not subject to reporting, says the doctor in training. One salmonella infection will not end up with the GGDs. But if a general practitioner has fifteen people with gastrointestinal complaints one morning, the same route is followed: the source of contamination must be detected.
If food is the suspected source, then the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is called in. “Signals can also come from a school director, after a wedding or from parents after a visit to a playground.”
Pay attention to this if you suspect a food infection
Wash your hands before you eat or cook
A food infection is often the result of your own behavior. For example, you have not heated meat properly or your hands did not wash after toilet use. This is much more common than there is an infected product on the shelves. Moreover, such a product will not make everyone who eats it sick.
You cannot see the harmful substances or sickness makers in your food, the Nutrition Center explains. “You can’t always taste or smell them. So it is always important to deal with eating hygienically. You stick to the basic rules. Wash your food, certainly raw fruit and vegetables. And wash your hands thoroughly before you eat or cook.”
These precautions are important for everyone. If you follow it, you actually have a smaller chance to increase a food infection.
Salmonella and Campylobacter are often the culprit
If an infection has been established after investigation, the supervisor warns the producer or seller, says Marloes van Kessel of the NVWA. A seller is responsible for the quality of the products sold, the regulator emphasizes.
“If necessary, we let Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) investigate whether there are pathogens in the food. If the cause is found, the NVWA can have a product removed from the market or take measures to prevent recurrence,” says Van Kessel.
The number of food infections fell in 2023, while the number of cases in the previous years had mainly risen. The 2024 figures are still expected. “The cause of an outbreak due to food often remains unknown. If the cause is known, the Bacteria Salmonella and Campylobacter most often cause an outbreak.”
Also think of prevention
Chicken with Salmonella, contaminated Blueberries, OR E. Coli in your Lettuce: Sometimes So Many People Get Sick That A Product is recalled. When should you wait out your stomach pain? And when is it wise to call the doctor?
With Stomach Pain, Nausea, and Darrhea, The Cause is not always clear. But if you open your news app and see that the chicken you just ate is being recalled, then you may know enough.
It May Seem Like Listeria is Constantly Being Found in Cheese, Salmonella On Chicken, OR E. Coli in Bean Sprouts. Yet That is not the case, Says Daphne Fioole, A Doctor in Training for Infectious Disease Control at GGD Haaglanden. We have very good food safety in the Netherlands and few outbreaks.
A foodborne illness is a general term, she explains. You can contract such an infection through contaminated food. The contamination can caus vomiting, diarrhea, and other complaints. It is very common and the course of the disease is of Harmless.
In most cases, Someone with a Foodborne Illness Suffers from Abdominal Cramps, Nausea, Dianrhea, and Vomiting for a Few Days. But Fioole Advisles Going to the Doctor if It Really Lasts A Long Time, If There Is Blood In The Stool, or If You Fall Into A Risk Group.
How a Recall Starts
Alarm Bells Ring at the GGDS IF General Practitioners Report a conspicuous number of reports that do not fit the pattern, Fiole explains. “Some diseases are notifiable, such as hepatitis A. these can make some sick. Such an outbreak rarely occurs, which is why the incident with the blueberries in January was Such big news.”
Then tests are done and it is examined Whether this is also happening in other regions. Patients are then called with questions such as what exactly are your complaints, when did they start, what did you eat and drink? “If they mention one particular product remarkable often, we will call in the nvwa.”
Many Diseases are notifiable, Says the Doctor in training. One Salmonella Infection Will not end up at the GGDS. But if a general practitioner has fifteen people with gastrointestinal complaints one morning, the same route is followed: the source of the contamination must be traced.
IF Food is the Susped Source, The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is called in. “Signals can also come from a school Principal, after a wedding, or from parents after visiting a playground.”
Watch Out For This If You Suspect A Foodborne Illness
Wash Your Hands Before Eating Or Cooking
Often a foodborne illness is the result of your own behavior. For example, you have not heated meat properly or you have not washed your hands after use the toilet. That happens much more of than a contaminated product lying on the shelves. MoreOover, such a product will not make everyone who eats it sick.
You Cannot See the Harmful Substances or Pathogens in Your Food, Explains the Nutrition Center. “You can’t always taste or Smell them either. So it is always important to handle food hygienically yourself. Stick to the basic rules. Wash Your Food, Especary Raw Vegetables and Fruit. Or Cooking.”
These Precautions Are Important For Everyone. If you follow them, accordance to fioole, you actual have a narrower chance of contracting a foodborne illness.
Salmonella and Campylobacter Are Often The Culprit
IF A contamination is found after investigation, The Supervisor Warns The Producer Or Seller, Says Marloes van Kessel of the NVWA. A Seller is Responsible for the Quality of the Products Sold, Emphasizes The Supervisor.
“If Necessary, we have Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) Investigate Whether there are pathogens in the food. If the cause is found, the nvwa can have a product removed from the market or take meures to prevention,” Say’s Says.
The Number of Foodborne Illnesses Decreased in 2023, While the Number of Cases had Mainly Increased in the Years Before. The Figures for 2024 Are Still Expected. “The cause of a foodborne outbreak of remains unknown. If the cause is known, the bacteria salmonella and campylobacter most ore an outbreak.”