What Is Food Poisoning and What Causes It?

Written and edited by the 4th Grade Enrichment Group

What is food poisoning? Give me a bucket and I’ll explain! When you eat contaminated food or water, a bunch of bacteria, parasites, or viruses from your food or water conflict with your insides. After you eat food with the poison trio (bacteria, parasites, or viruses), you might vomit or have diarrhea or you could even die! Leafy greens are a common cause of food poisoning because they aren’t washed properly. Another culprit of food poisoning is raw meats. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites can even be spread from one food to another, like when the food is being shipped. Also, if a person is sick and coughs or sneezes on food, when other people eat that food they can get sick. The total number of people who get sick from known causes is 9.4 million. Almost 56,000 people each year in the U.S. are hospitalized from food poisoning, and about 1,400 people die from it. To prevent food poisoning, make sure your food is cooked all the way. Cut your burger in half to make sure it isn’t raw inside! Clean food yourself to know that it is really clean, and make sure you wash your hands before you eat or touch food. Now you can use that bucket for a leak instead!