A few years ago when I lived in Winnipeg, I had a near death experience. Here’s the story:
My husband and I were at one of the very first concerts at the new MTS Centre - hubsters Favourite band was playing, The Tragically Hip. I had missed supper that evening and so ordered a smokie (think big hotdog/sausage for those of you unfamiliar with the term). While eating it, I made a remark to hubster that something didn’t seem right – but continued eating cause I was absolutely famished! We enjoyed the show and went home.
In the middle of the night, I started to feel sick to my stomach, and was vomiting everywhere. And then you guessed it, it started out the other way too. I seriously thought I was going to die. As I laid on the bathroom floor, I remember praying and saying something like “well, this is what death feels like, let’s get it over with, there’s nothing I can do, I surrender”. I told my husband to let me family know I love them. He told me to take a few Tums and go back to sleep.
I woke up In the morning (alive) and drug myself to the phone to call the MTS Centre to see if anyone else had been ill. They suggested calling the Department of Health. They quickly came over, dropped off some sterile containers and I provided the samples .
A few hours (or days, I can’t remember now) I got the news, which I will never forget… I had clostridium perfringens! Please go search the term, it makes me want to vomit all over again just thinking of the bacteria I had digested! Are you back? Are you sick too? I guess I should have put a disclaimer at the top of this post shouldn’t I? ”Not for those with weak stomachs”.
So, needless to say, I never want to get food positioning again, and I’m sure you don’t either. Here are a few tips to ensuring your cooking area is germ free from the Hygiene Council :
Tips
- Use disposable cloths or soak reusable ones in disinfectant overnight to clean them.
- Store food in the fridge at 5°C, don’t overfill and make sure cold air can circulate.
- Disinfect the inside of your fridge regularly to remove microbes where food has dripped.
- Foot-operated bins are more hygienic because they reduce the risk of hands picking up germs touching the bin lid.
- Try using a quality antibacterial product that’s safe to use on food areas to remove harmful bacteria and viruses from your chopping board.
- Use different knives and boards for meat and vegetables to prevent cross-contamination.
- Soak, scrape, brush, scald, or wash all fruit, salad and vegetables.
- Always cook all meat products thoroughly at 70°C.
- Don’t leave cooked food sitting at room temperature for longer than two hours.
- Remember to reheat at (at 70°C or above) and re-serve leftovers only once.
On another note, if you ever get food poisoning, please don’t take my husbands advice (who obviously isn’t a dr.) Tums is not suggested for Food poisoning.
Have you ever had a near death experience or food poisoning? What are your food prep tips?
Disclosure: I am part of the Lysol® Healthy Families Ambassador Program by Mom Central. I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
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I am very “anal” about washing hands and prep area repeatedly. One can never be too careful and soap and water is cheap enough.
On an added note: I do not use hand sanitizers. They give you a false sense of security and cheats proper hand washing. Also, it is possible over time you can become allergic to some of the components of hand sanitizers. I am a victim and now have to carry an epi-pen and the stuff is every where. It’s worse than dealing with a peanut allergy.
Yes! Both. I had food poisoning so bad once I laid on the bathroom floor for 2 days, and really couldn’t move. I lived alone so that was a bad situation to be in. I now keep a phone closer to the bathroom.
I also have severe food allergies and carry an epi-pen. I had a couple very close calls but hopefully it’s sorted out now.
Both types of experiences were very scary. I am very careful with what I eat, how it is prepared, cleanliness, and where I eat out.
Yuk. I would never eat at a mobile cart. No bathroom and no sink to wash their hands. I cannot see them being the best way of serving food.
In case I have to skip a meal, I carry a meal subsitute in my bag, like Boost or Ensure. It is not quite the same as a meal, but will keep you going for a couple of hours.
The closest I came to anything like that was taking a salmon oil capsule that went down the wrong way. I thought it was stuck in my throat, until I realized it was in my lungs. These are 1000 mg so are huge, luckily I was still able to breathe, so luckily I was able to cough it up while dialing 911. Not sure what would have happened if it had dissolved down there. I have had my share of food poisonings, once at a restaurant chain opening, and half the town was sick.
I went out with friends a long time ago and ordered pizza I only ate a slice because it had a odd taste and same as you OMG I thought I was dying too! At my age now I probable would, now if anything taste’s a little funnt the first bite is my last!!
My daughter (11) contracted food poisoning from a hot dog (it came from a hamburger restaurant that made their burgers with fresh ground beef). I called the health department and they took a bunch of info, but said they don’t do an investigation unless there are other reports. My daughter was so ill that it completely shut down her digestive system, and it took her months to feel ‘herself’ again. The only thing worse than getting food poisoning yourself, is watching your child with it. She’s sworn off hot dogs since and I can’t say I blame her.
My mom almost died from food poisoning one time. It was over Christmas / New Years. It was the scariest moment of our lives. Watching the EMT’s revive her. Thankfully she recovered.
I’m glad you recovered too.
Happy New Year
Happy New Year!
What a scary story! Glad you are ok now!
Oh my! So glad to hear you ended up being okay – but yes, I have had food poisoning twice in my life and know how horrific it is!
Wow…that is scary. Im going to disinfect my fridge today!
I’m so happy you’re ok. I hear things like that are most common in all you can eat buffets. I’ve never been to one because I’m a total germaphobe.