Food poisoning alert as doctor says one meat has 'a lot' of bacteria
The common meal can easily lead to some uncomfortable health issues if people are not fully aware of these dos and don'ts
A BBC doctor has issued a health alert to anyone cooking this summer to watch out for something 'really common' that could result in serious sickness. Speaking on BBC's Morning Live, Dr Punam Krishan shared some tips to make sure people are able to avoid food poisoning this season. It often spikes in the summer due to the warmer weather conditions, making it much easier for bacteria to spread.
She said: "In warmer weather, bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli tend to multiply much faster, so it's really important to store [and cook] your food properly." The practising GP said that the simplest defence is knowing how the use your fridge, so Dr Punam provided a list of tips to keep your food safe, including:
Keep your fridge set to between 0C and 5C: Some fridges have built-in thermometers, but you can buy and fit a separate one
Don't overfill your fridge: It leaves little to no space for cold air to move about.
Get food into the fridge as soon as possible: Avoid leaving your groceries in the car for long periods between shopping.
Dr Punam issued some advice to anyone who eats chicken, turkey and duck. She said: "Raw poultry has a lot of bacteria, like salmonella and Campylobacter, that sit on the surface of your poultry. If it's not cooked properly, you can get really unwell."
Leftovers might pile up if you cook for a crowd but don't have room for them on your plate. But even if you avoid all the food poisoning pitfalls, your leftovers might offer bacteria a second chance to infect.
Dr Punam stressed the importance of letting cooked food cool completely before storing it in the fridge. If you know you won't eat the dish within the next couple of days, freeze it instead.
She also warned that defrosting anything frozen could also lead to food poisoning and said the best thing to do is to transfer items from the freezer into the fridge to thaw gradually and safely. She said: "It might all sound like common sense, but [food poisoning] is one of the common culprits for why so many people get diarrhoea and vomiting."
What are the signs of food poisoning?
According to the NHS, food poisoning symptoms usually start within a few hours or a few days of eating food that caused the infection. Sometimes symptoms do not start for a few weeks - which could make it hard to pinpoint the meal that caused the issue - but this kind of delayed reaction is very rare.
You can typically spot the signs of food poisoning in yourself or others by checking for the following red flags:
feeling sick or being sick
diarrhoea
tummy pain
a high temperature
feeling generally unwell
How to treat food poisoning?
Any type of food can cause this poisoning, although it is rarely serious and usually gets better within a week. However, battling through the symptoms can be quite uncomfortable.
You can normally treat yourself at home. The NHS says that "the most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration".
Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration (such as dark, smelly urine or peeing less than usual). People who are older, have a weakened immune system, or have other health conditions that increase their risk of dehydration should also get additional help from a pharmacist, who may recommend some oral rehydration powder that you mix with water to make a drink.
The experts add that people should try to eat when they feel able to, and it may help to avoid foods that are fatty or spicy. Taking paracetamol if you're in discomfort should also help.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Gemma Collins reveals health battle as she shares tough side effects
Gemma Collins has revealed she has been struck down with pneumonia as she reveals some of her tricky symptoms. The GC, 44, is known for being a fabulous media personality who is full of one-liners and her incredible diva behaviour. However, the star has revealed a health battle that has been going on for the past few weeks as she explained she's been struggling recently. 'Hey guys sorry been quiet I have Pneumonia 🤍 I'm not as fast or on it as I usually am on the daily 🤍 'I am still honouring my work commitments which is taking every bit of energy I have but will be back entertaining you all soon 🤍,' she announced on social media. She then shared images on her Instagram story as she revealed that she has been dealing with some unpleasant side effects. She shared images of intravenous drips being hooked up to her arms, likely for vitamins and fluids, as she spoke about how her life had slowed down because of the illness. 'I'm having to take it easy, which is not like me, very slow and get out of breath and tired so quickly.' She shared one snap with her fluffy golden-brown pomeranian Gucci, who she said was 'giving her lots of cuddles.' She also revealed that doctors were visiting her home as she shared a snap of a doctor writing on a tablet box with the caption: 'Thank you to everyone helping me, I've had pneumonia for three weeks and honestly can't thank everyone all the docs helping me.' According to the NHS website, Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection. Most people get better in 2 to 4 weeks, but babies, older people, and people with heart or lung conditions are at risk of getting seriously ill and may need treatment in hospital. Symptoms can typically include: a cough – including coughing up yellow or green mucus (phlegm) shortness of breath a high temperature chest pain an aching body feeling very tired loss of appetite making wheezing noises when you breathe – babies may also make grunting noises feeling confused – this is common in older people Gemma has been frank about her recent health updates. The star revealed in January that she was taking Mounjaro injections to assist with her weight loss and attempt to have a baby. She told The Sun in March 2025: 'I think I'll give birth to twins next year! More Trending 'I can't believe I've finally found something that works. I've lost nearly two stone already and it's been completely effortless – I don't even want to eat anymore!' She added: 'I got on the scales and lost something like 6kg in my first week. I bet my house by May, I'll have six stone off. And it's been effortless. 'I've struggled for many, many years to lose weight… All my life… I tried everything.' Gemma then added that the drug had managed to change her life completely: 'This is a revolutionary, life-changing drug for someone who has struggled with weight their whole life. There's all this pressure people don't realise. A weight problem clouds your whole life.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Inside Gemma Collins' £1,300,000 Essex home with life-sized animal sculptures in garden zoo MORE: All the James Bond contenders who make absolutely no sense for 007
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Bogus doctor told to pay NHS more than £400,000 or face longer jail term
A bogus psychiatrist has been ordered to pay back the NHS more than £400,000 or face two-and-a-half more years in prison. Zholia Alemi, 62, was jailed in February 2023 for seven years after she committed a string of fraud offences. Alemi claimed to have qualified at the University of Auckland in New Zealand but a jury at Manchester Crown Court found her guilty of forging the degree certificate and letter of verification she used to register with the General Medical Council in 1995. She moved around the country to different posts for more than 20 years to ensure 'the finger of suspicion' did not point at her, the court heard. Alemi, from Burnley, Lancashire, worked 'more or less continuously' for NHS trusts and private providers across the UK in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, earning an estimated £1.3 million. This week a judge ordered her to pay £406,624 in compensation to the NHS or face more time in custody. Adrian Foster, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'We have robustly pursued the proceeds of crime with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and have identified all the assets that she has available to pay her order. 'Alemi had little regard for patient welfare. She used forged New Zealand medical qualifications to obtain employment as an NHS psychiatrist for 20 years. In doing so, she must have treated hundreds of patients when she was unqualified to do so, potentially putting those patients at risk. 'Her fraudulent actions also enabled her to dishonestly earn income and benefits more than £1 million, to which she was not entitled. She cheated the public purse and £406,624 will be paid in compensation to the NHS.' Alemi was convicted at Carlisle Crown Court in 2018 for three fraud offences and a count of theft after trying to forge the will and powers of attorney of an elderly patient. Following her conviction, journalist Phil Coleman, chief reporter for Cumbrian Newspapers, made inquiries into Alemi's background and found she had never completed her qualification, the court was told. His inquiries led to Cumbria Police further probing Alemi's background. Alemi was born in Iran but in the early 1990s was in Auckland, where she failed to complete the bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery degree required to practise as a doctor and was refused permission to resit.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
FDA issues highest alert for tomato recall due to salmonella risk
The Food and Drug Administration has upgraded a tomato recall in three states to its most severe warning due to a potential salmonella contamination. Three weeks ago the agency announced a voluntary recall by Williams Farms Repack LLC of its tomatoes across Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Last week, the FDA upgraded the recall to Class 1, indicating a reasonable probability that the product could 'cause serious adverse health consequences or death'. The tomatoes were distributed between 23 and 28 April. Although no illnesses have been reported, the FDA has urged consumers to either return the tomatoes for a full refund or discard them. Salmonella, one of the world's leading causes of foodborne illness, are a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal issues and fever. The bacteria spreads when people eat raw or undercooked foods, and can be transmitted by food handlers who do not wash their hands properly, as well as the surfaces and tools they use in food preparation. It can spread from animals to people, with those most at risk including children younger than five, elderly people and those with immunocompromised systems. Symptoms of salmonella – including diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps – typically begin 12 to 72 hours after infection and last up to a week. Most people are able to recover without requiring treatment, but in some cases the illness can be fatal, with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating 450 salmonella-related deaths every year.
