food poisoning

American  

noun

1. an acute gastrointestinal condition characterized by such symptoms as headache, fever, chills, abdominal and muscular pain, nausea, diarrhea, and prostration, caused by foods that are naturally toxic, as poisonous mushrooms, by vegetable foods that are chemically contaminated, as by insecticides, or by bacteria or their toxins, especially of the genus Salmonella.

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food poisoning British  

noun

1. an acute illness typically characterized by gastrointestinal inflammation, vomiting, and diarrhoea, caused by food that is either naturally poisonous or contaminated by pathogenic bacteria (esp Salmonella )

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food poisoning Scientific  

1. An acute gastrointestinal disorder characterized by vomiting and diarrhea, caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, usually of the genus Salmonella or the genus Staphylococcus, which produces a toxin.

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food poisoning Cultural  

1. Illnesses that arise from eating food contaminated with pathogenic or toxic (see toxins) substances. Characterized by vomiting and diarrhea, food poisoning is often caused by bacteria, such as salmonella or staphylococci. (See botulism.)

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Etymology

Origin of food poisoning

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Food poisoning remains a serious problem around the world.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2023

Food poisoning has been on the rise the past two summers, in part because of the absence of stable power supply and food refrigeration.

From Washington Post • Oct. 7, 2022

Food poisoning forced him to miss a game on Aug. 7 in New York and limited him to late-inning duties a day later.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 28, 2021

Food poisoning isn't even always officially food poisoning.

From Salon • May 16, 2021

Food poisoning, as more commonly understood, is due to the composition, contents, or contamination of the food itself.

From Food Poisoning by Jordan, Edwin Oakes

Related Words

• botulism
• salmonella