Question

Paheli wonders how food can become a 'poison'.

Answer 1

Hint:When food is kept outside or without any hygienic or preventive measures, then that food becomes poisonous since microorganisms feed on that. The organisms that feed on such foods, utilities the nutrition present in the food and multiply themselves.

Complete Answer: Food poisoning, also defined as a food-borne disease, is a bacterial infection caused by consuming food that is contaminated. Bacterial infections or their metabolites are by far the most common sources of food poisoning, involving bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The manifestations of food poisoning, such as nausea and diarrhea, are familiar to most people. Microbes, more repeatedly referred to as just pathogens, if sufficient safety precautions are not followed, can infect foods in the kitchen, or somewhere in between. At any point of processing or development, pathogenic agents or their contaminants may cause food poisoning. If food is incorrectly treated or cooked, contamination can also occur at home. Foodborne illness is most likely mild and is managed without treatment. Yet there is a need for some individuals to go to the doctor.

Additional Information:
In the kitchen, by using the same knife, cutting board, and other utensils, germs may be transferred from one food to another without cleaning it properly between each one. If they contact other raw foods containing such germs, fully cooked foods could become re-contaminated. In order to cause disease, many microbial pathogens must spread to greater numbers in food. For instance, under warm and humid conditions, when the germs multiply, slightly infectious food left out overtime will become extremely contagious. Normally, timely refrigeration or cooling avoids this development. The bacterial growth is also stopped by high salt, sugar, or acidic concentrations.

Note: For young children, pregnant mothers and their infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, food poisoning is particularly serious and potentially life-threatening. By eliminating the following foods, these individuals should take precautions: raw meat, uncooked fish, Juices, milk unprocessed, and refrigerated food.