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

Already this year, his flagship billion-dollar free school meals programme has been mired in controversy over mass food poisonings.

From BBC

It’s like solving food poisoning with another lukewarm plate of lightly-boiled chicken.

From The Wall Street Journal

Leading batsman, Shai Hope was missing Saturday because of food poisoning.

From Barron's

Dozens of people have fallen ill with food poisoning after eating Sunday lunch at a village pub.

From BBC

Do I tell my sister and brother-in-law that the turkey was undercooked last year and could have given us all food poisoning?

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• botulism
• salmonella