Definition

Noun: * An illness caused by eating food that is contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins. Symptoms typically include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.

Usage

• The term "food poisoning" is a non-count noun. You do not say "a food poisoning" or "food poisonings."
• It is commonly used with verbs like get, have, suffer from, or cause.
• It is often specified by the source or type of contaminant (e.g., ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • Several people at the picnic got food poisoning from the potato salad.
  • The restaurant was closed after an outbreak of food poisoning.
  • Symptoms of food poisoning can appear within hours of eating contaminated food.

Advanced Usage

• "a case of food poisoning": This phrase is used to refer to a specific instance or occurrence of the illness.
  • The health department is investigating a case of food poisoning linked to the seafood market.

Variants and Related Words

• Foodborne illness (n): A more formal or medical term with the same meaning as "food poisoning."
  • Proper cooking temperatures are critical to prevent foodborne illness.

Synonyms

• Gastroenteritis: A medical term for inflammation of the stomach and intestines, which can be caused by food poisoning.
• Stomach flu (informal): A common, non-medical term for illnesses with similar symptoms, though not always caused by food.

Related Phrases

• To suspect food poisoning: To believe that one's illness is likely caused by contaminated food.
  • I suspect food poisoning from the chicken I ate last night.
• Food poisoning outbreak: A situation where multiple people get sick from the same contaminated food source.
  • Health officials are trying to contain the food poisoning outbreak.

Noun

1. illness caused by poisonous or contaminated food