Safer food choices for people at greater risk of food poisoning

Food safety is important to everyone. However, some people are at a greater risk of getting sick from unsafe food. Getting sick from contaminated food is called foodborne illness, which is commonly known as food poisoning.

On this page

• People at greater risk of food poisoning
• People who are pregnant
• People who are 60 years old and over
• Children 5 years old and under
• People with weakened immune systems
• Make safer food choices

People at greater risk of food poisoning

Some people are more likely to get food poisoning than others. This is because their immune systems may not be as strong at fighting microorganisms that cause foodborne illness. You could be at greater risk if you are:

• pregnant
• a person 60 years old and over
• a child 5 years old and under
• a person with weakened immune system

If you are at greater risk, food poisoning can affect you more than it affects others. If you get sick, you are more likely to:

• get infections more easily
• have a more serious illness
• experience severe health-related problems during or after your illness

Food poisoning can sometimes cause serious, long-term health problems. In some cases, you can develop ongoing conditions, such as arthritis or problems that affect the brain or nervous system. In rare cases, food poisoning can be life-threatening.

If you are at greater risk, or prepare food for those who are, it's important to follow safe food handling practices. These steps can help lower the risk of food poisoning and support your good health:

• choosing safer foods
• storing food properly
• preparing food safely
• cooking food to safe temperatures

People who are pregnant

If you are pregnant, you are at greater risk of food poisoning. This is because pregnancy causes natural changes in your immune system. These changes make it harder for your body to fight infections. Food poisoning can affect both yourself and your unborn baby.

Some bacteria, like Listeria monocytogenes, can go through the placenta. This can cause serious risks to the baby. If you become sick, there's an increased risk that your baby could get infected. Your unborn baby's immune system is not developed enough to fight off harmful bacteria.

Food poisoning can be even more dangerous to your baby's health than to yours. The risk depends on your stage of pregnancy:

• early pregnancy, during the first trimester
  • food poisoning can increase the risk of miscarriage
• later in pregnancy
  • food poisoning may lead to stillbirth, premature birth, or a baby who is born sick

People who are 60 years old and over

If you are 60 years old and over, you are at greater risk of food poisoning. This is because, as you age, your immune system becomes weaker, making it harder for your body to fight infections.

With age, your stomach also produces less acid, reducing the body's natural defences against harmful microorganisms. Because of this reduced protection, dangerous bacteria are more likely to cause illnesses. Food poisoning could lead to serious, long-term health problems.

Some health conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease, can further weaken your immune system. These conditions may make it even harder to recover from an infection. Although most people recover from food poisoning, serious, long-term health problems, such as kidney failure and anemia, could happen.

Children 5 years old and under

If your child is 5 years old or under, they are at a greater risk of food poisoning. This is because your child's immune system is still developing and cannot yet fight infections effectively.

If your child gets food poisoning, it may lead to serious health problems including dehydration, hemolytic uremic syndrome or paralysis. Some of these health problems might require you to take your child to the hospital.

Dehydration happens when your child's body loses too much fluid. This can be caused by:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• not being able to drink water

Since your child's body is small, dehydration can happen quickly. It's important to get medical help right away.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a serious illness that affects the kidneys and blood. It is caused by dangerous strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli O157:H7). It is a severe illness that damages blood vessels, may lead to kidney failure and could be life-threatening. You can reduce the risk by:

• cooking ground beef to a safe internal temperature of 71°C (160°F)
• remembering that colour is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness
• using a digital food thermometer to check that ground beef has reached the safe cooking temperature
• serving only pasteurized juices or cider; checking the label

Paralysis can occur in children under the age of one because of infant botulism. At this age, your baby's digestive system is still developing and cannot prevent certain bacteria from growing and producing harmful toxins.

• Infant botulism is a rare, but serious illness, which can cause temporary paralysis in infants. It happens when:
  • your baby swallows spores of a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum
  • these spores grow and establish themselves in your baby's intestines
  • the bacteria release dangerous toxins
• The toxins affect the nerves that control muscles. Your baby may have a wobbly head because the neck is weak, trouble swallowing and breathing.
• Since infant botulism affects your baby's breathing, it's important to get medical help right away.
• To prevent infant botulism, do not give honey to your child if they are less than 1 year old.

People with weakened immune systems

If you have a weakened immune system you are at greater risk for food poisoning. This is because your immune system is weaker due to certain health conditions and treatments used to manage them.

When your immune system is weak, it can be harder for your body to fight infections. Because of this, you are more likely than others to get food poisoning, and to experience serious health problems if you become sick.

Some health conditions or treatments that can weaken your immune system include:

• diabetes
• alcohol use disorder
• organ transplants, due to medicine that suppresses your immune system
• cancer, especially if you are receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment
• human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)

When your immune system is compromised, your body has more difficulty fighting infections. This increases your risk of food poisoning and related complications.

Make safer food choices

It is important to make Safer food choices for people at greater risk of food poisoning