food poisoning

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.

food poisoning

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 )

food poisoning

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.

food poisoning

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.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of food poisoning¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

"Raw milk may contain food poisoning bacteria, so there are extra checks and hygiene standards for raw drinking milk producers," says FSA deputy director of policy Natasha Smith.

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Hundreds of pupils in Indonesia fell ill after eating free school meals, officials said Wednesday, in the latest case of alleged food poisoning marring a government-funded programme.

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There have been nineteen confirmed cases of food poisoning following reports of customers feeling unwell after eating a carvery at a pub.

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But unlike in Brazil and India, the Indonesian programme has been accused of being ineffective, despite its much higher cost, because of the mass food poisonings.

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SVT reports that 80 people have registered having food poisoning after dining at the restaurant with a city tracking tool between last Saturday and Thursday morning, and 400 people have been contacted for infection tracing.

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Related Words

• botulism 
• salmonella