Food and Nutrition

Food Poisoning and Regulatory Toxicology

Infectious organisms — including bacteria, viruses and parasites — or their toxins are the most common causes of food poisoning. Infectious organisms or their toxins can contaminate food at any point of processing or production. Contamination can also occur at home if food is wrongly handled or cooked. Food poisoning symptoms, which can start within hours of eating contaminated food, include nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. Most often, food poisoning is mild and resolves without treatment.