What pathogens can cause both food intoxication and food infection?

Answer 1

There are a number of ways in which food can make you sick. Chemicals, heavy metals, foreign objects, food-infesting insects, parasites, fungi, viruses and bacteria are all possible causes.

The greatest, and by far most common risk of becoming ill or dying from food is from contamination with harmful microorganisms, commonly known as germs. The likelihood of becoming seriously ill by microorganisms is far greater than that of pesticide risks, environmental contaminants, nutritional imbalances, food additives and natural toxicants.

Microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, molds, and parasites. Of the many types of microorganisms, bacteria and viruses are the major source of foodborne illness cases in most of the world.

Microbial food poisonings or foodborne illnesses mainly fall into one of two categories. The first is food infection, where the microorganism itself grows inside your body and is the source of your symptoms. An example of htis is Salmonella. The second type is food intoxication, where a chemical or natural toxin (often produced as a by-product of bacteria present in the food - known as an exotoxin) causes your symptoms or illness. A bacteria known to cause intoxication is Staphylocuccos aureus.

Most bacterial food poisonings are actually food infections. The symptoms of food infection and food intoxication are similar. Both can produce food poisoning related symptoms, such as headaches, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea, dehydration, and so it is not always clear which you are experiencing. Some dangerous bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum can cause death if a person is not treated immediately.

Answer 2

staphylococcus infection/intoxication