Food poisoning hits 4 million a year

The first case of hepatitis A has been confirmed in WA, believed to related to contaminated frozen berries.

Frozen berries tip of the food poisoning iceberg ... There are four million cases a year caused by various bacteria and viruses. Picture: Thinkstock. Source: ThinkStock

FOOD poisoning affects four million Australians a year, results in 13 million missed working days and costs the economy over $1.2 billion a year.

The Hepatitis A outbreak connected with berries imported from China is only one of hundreds of types of illnesses you can contract from food.

Bacteria, viruses and parasites that can be hosted in food are behind most cases of food poisoning.

CONTAMINATED: Raspberries linked to Hepatitis A outbreak

Hidden enemies ... There are up to 200 bacteria, viruses and parasites in food that cause food poisoning. Picture: News Corp Australia. Source: News Corp Australia

But chemicals added to food and high levels of some ingredients like iodine can also cause health problems.

The most common symptoms of food poisoning include fever, vomiting and diarrhoea but in rare cases it can cause cysts, paralysis, seizures, dementia and death.

Trichinosis, a parasitic infection caused by eating animals, commonly pigs, infected with the larvae of a worm will see immature worms travel through the arteries into the muscles and form cysts.

Botulism can cause paralysis and death and mad cow disease has symptoms of dementia, jerky movements and personality changes.

"There are 10 or 11 causes you really pay attention to but there are up to 200 illnesses you can get from food," Australian National University epidemiologist Associate Professor Martyn Kirk says.

Bad track record ... Chinese products have been involved in several recent food scares in Australia. Picture Thinkstock Source: ThinkStock

Chinese products have been involved in several recent food scares in Australia including the 2009 Bonsoy recall where over 600 Australians developed thyroid dysfunction caused by high iodine levels in the soy milk, Bonsoy.

In 2010 eight milk products were found to have high melamine levels, the testing occurred after increased incidence of kidney stones in infants in China linked to melamine in milk.

But other food scares have been local.

In 2008 six sushi samples were categorised as potentially hazardous due to elevated levels of Bacillus cereus and E. coli.

More than 140 people fell ill and 15 were admitted to hospital with salmonella poisoning after eating at the Copa Brazilian Churrasco in Dickson in May 2013 after being served raw egg in their mayonnaise.

Food Standards Australia checks also found locally grown strawberries were infected by salmonella and L monocytogenes and e cold in Australian grown sprouts and parsley.

Previous case ... In 2010 eight milk products were found to have high melamine levels, the testing occurred after increased incidence of kidney stones in infants in China linked to melamine in milk. Picture: Supplied Source: News Corp Australia

COMMON CAUSES OF FOOD POISONING

. Bacillus is a bacteria commonly found in fried rice, starchy vegetables, meat products, cereal foods, sauces, puddings and spices it causes vomiting and diarrhoea that usually last around 24 hours.

. Campylobacter is found in raw and undercooked poultry, unpasteurised milk and contaminated water and causes fever, nausea, diarrhoea and cramps.

. Botulism found in honey, home canned vegetables and fruits, corn syrup, fermented fish has symptoms of lethargy, blurred vision, paralysis and death from respiratory failure if not treated quickly.

. Clostridium perfringens found in meats, poultry, gravy, dried and pre-cooked foods causes watery diarrhoea, cramps and nausea.

. E cold commonly found in undercooked beef, unpasteurised milk and juice, sprouts and contaminated water it causes diarrhoea and cramps.

You don't want this ... E cold commonly found in undercooked beef, unpasteurised milk and juice, sprouts and contaminated water it causes diarrhoea and cramps. Picture: Supplied. Source: ThinkStock

. Listeria found in soft cheeses, ready to eat deli meats and unpasteurised milk can cause meningitis, sepsis and fever.

. Salmonella is found in undercooked poultry, raw egg, mayonnaise, sprouts, tahini and causes headache, fever, cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting.

. Staphylococcus aureus is found in cream desserts and pastries and potato salad and causes vomiting and abdominal cramps.

. Norovirus transmitted when a person with the virus handles food causes fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea and headache.

. Trichinosis is a parasitic infection caused by eating animals, commonly pigs, infected with the larvae of a worm called trichinella. The worms mate in your intestines and the females lay eggs, which then develop into immature worms, that travel through the arteries into the muscles and form cysts.

. Mad cow disease which has killed more than 160 people in Britain causes dementia, memory loss, hallucinations and personality changes paired with physical changes such as jerky movements.

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