How to prevent having food poisoning:


 -Wash your hands, food, knives, cutting boards and counters as much as possible.

-Keep your raw meats away from any uncooked food.

-Make sure all of your food, mainly meat, is fully cooked.

-When you are finished with food, put it away and in the refrigerator as soon at possible.

-Do not keep your fruits and vegetables at room temperature for long.
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A wretched experience

-Lindsey Flemming

It was two in the morning when I experience the most vivid dream. I felt nausea sweep through my body and the pain of my chest uncontrollably contracting. This feeling of closing in on the brink of vomiting was oddly too realistic to just be a dream. Then I realized that this was not a dream. The tamales that I had eaten earlier were unforgivably coming back for revenge. 

Having food poisoning was the sickest I have ever felt—more than the time I had strep throat and the flu at the same time. One minute I am having a great time with my friends at Barton Creek eating one of our favorite snacks, and the next thing I know, I’m waking up from a peaceful sleep feeling like the spawn of Satan is repeatedly kicking me in the stomach. The combination of exhaustion, my whole body heaving, and irrefutable sickness in my stomach made me want to take my last breath at the foot of the toilet. 

There are two causes of food poisoning: infective agents or toxic agents. The infective agents include viruses, bacteria and parasites. These are usually contracted through improperly prepared food or contact with a dirty surface. The toxic agents are poisonous mushrooms or pesticides on fruits and vegetables. 

Your body’s reaction to the microorganisms or the toxic substances is to do everything in its power to extract the unwanted material; this unfortunately most often includes diarrhea or vomiting. The symptoms of food poisoning typically last from 24-48 hours. 

Ever since that day, I have never been able to smell the aroma or even consider eating tamales without feeling my stomach churn. It’s a shame though really, how you can love a food so much, but have that love ruined because of one dreadful night spent over the toilet. 

Quotes from other sufferers: 

“It was my birthday and the day before Christmas when I experienced the most miserable case of food poisoning from Chipotle’s meat,” senior Katherine Nemeth said. “I will never feel the same way about Chipotle; now I would choose Freebirds over Chipotle any day.” 

“One day in elementary school it was taco day so I had a taco for lunch,” junior Mike Walker said. “Later after school I was at my brother’s football banquet and I started not feeling well so I threw up everywhere. Anything I ate or drank, I would have to rush to the bathroom and throw it up. It was horrible, I wanted to die.”