Food poisoning
Key facts
- Food poisoning is caused by bacteria, viruses or toxins in the food we eat.
- Symptoms of food poisoning range from mild to very severe.
- Most cases of food poisoning don't need medical attention.
- Pregnant people should speak to a doctor if experiencing food poisoning.
- Practising good food hygiene can lower your chance of food poisoning.
What is food poisoning?
Food poisoning is caused by bacteria and viruses getting into the food we eat. It can also be caused by toxins produced by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.
Food poisoning is also called 'foodborne illness'.
What are the symptoms of food poisoning?
Symptoms of food poisoning can range from mild to very severe. You may be sick with food poisoning but not know what food caused it. Different bacteria and viruses cause different symptoms.
If you have food poisoning, you'll probably have gastroenteritis symptoms such as:
- abdominal (tummy) cramps
- nausea (feeling sick)
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- fever — a temperature over 38°C
- headaches
Symptoms can take between a few hours and a few days to start, depending on the cause of your food poisoning.
Salmonella |
|
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Headache, fever, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and feeling sick |
| How long for symptoms to appear | Between 6 and 72 hours |
| How long symptoms last for | 2 to 5 days |
| Commonly found in | Undercooked poultry, raw egg desserts, mayonnaise, sprouts, tahini |
| Seek urgent care | Blood or mucus in vomit or diarrhoea. Risk of severe dehydration. Signs include feeling very thirsty, a dry mouth, fever, passing little pee, having darker pee than usual and feeling light-headed when standing. |
Campylobacter |
|
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Fever, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea (sometimes bloody) |
| How long for symptoms to appear | Between 2 to 5 days |
| How long symptoms last for | About 5 days |
| Commonly found in | Raw and undercooked poultry, unpasteurised milk and contaminated water |
| Seek urgent care | Blood or mucus in diarrhoea. Risk of severe dehydration. Signs include feeling very thirsty, a dry mouth, fever, passing little pee, having darker pee than usual and feeling light-headed when standing. |
Listeria |
|
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Headache, fever, tiredness, aches and pains, diarrhoea |
| Complications | Sepsis and meningitis |
| How long for symptoms to appear | 3 days to 10 weeks |
| How long symptoms last for | |
| Commonly found in | Soft cheeses, unpasteurised milk, ready-to-eat deli meats |
| Seek urgent care |
Can be serious in vulnerable people such as:
If you’re pregnant — listeria can lead to a miscarriage. This can happen even when you don’t know you’ve been infected. If you notice symptoms — usually like a mild flu but also diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea — contact your doctor immediately. Risk of severe dehydration. Signs include feeling very thirsty, a dry mouth, fever, passing little pee, having darker pee than usual and feeling light-headed when standing |
E. coli |
|
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Diarrhoea (often bloody), abdominal cramps |
| How long for symptoms to appear | Between 2 to 10 days |
| How long symptoms last for | About 1 week |
| Commonly found in | Undercooked beef, unpasteurised milk and juice, sprouts and contaminated water |
| Seek urgent care | Blood or mucus in diarrhoea. Risk of severe dehydration. Signs include feeling very thirsty, a dry mouth, fever, passing little pee, having darker pee than usual and feeling light-headed when standing. |
Norovirus |
|
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea and headache |
| How long for symptoms to appear | Between 24 to 48 hours |
| How long symptoms last for | 1 to 3 days |
| Commonly found in | Undercooked shellfish, contaminated ready-to-eat foods |
| Seek urgent care | Blood or mucus in vomit or diarrhoea. Risk of severe dehydration. Signs include feeling very thirsty, a dry mouth, fever, passing little pee, having darker pee than usual and feeling light-headed when standing. |
Rotavirus |
|
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Severe gastro or flu-like symptoms |
| How long for symptoms to appear | Between 24 to 48 hours |
| How long symptoms last for | Up to 8 days |
| Commonly found in | Contaminated foods |
| Seek urgent care | Blood or mucus in vomit or diarrhoea. Risk of severe dehydration. Signs include feeling very thirsty, a dry mouth, fever, passing little pee, having darker pee than usual and feeling light-headed when standing. |
What causes food poisoning?
Food poisoning is caused by eating or drinking contaminated foods or drinks.
Food contamination can be caused by:
- not cooking foods properly
- not storing foods below 5°C
- someone who is unwell or has poor hygiene handling the food
- cross contamination — spreading germs between food, surfaces, utensils and equipment
Read more about preparing food safely.
What are high risk foods?
High risk foods include:
- meat — undercooked mince and rolled, formed or tenderised meats
- raw or undercooked poultry — chicken, duck and turkey
- raw or lightly cooked eggs
- cold meats — salami and hams
- seafood
- cooked rice or pasta — not kept at the correct temperature
- prepared salads — coleslaw, pasta salads, rice salads and fruit salads
- unpasteurised dairy products
Foraged foods and wild mushrooms
Foraging for food is becoming increasingly popular in Australia. But when you gather wild plants and mushrooms, you can accidentally include toxic species.
Some wild mushrooms, including the death cap, are extremely poisonous. You shouldn't eat foraged mushrooms unless you are sure that they are safe.
If you suspect you have eaten poisonous mushrooms, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
When should I see my doctor?
Most cases of food poisoning don't need medical attention.
You should see your doctor if you're in a high-risk group (see below).
Also contact your doctor if you have any of the following:
- very severe symptoms
- not able to keep fluids down for more than a day
- symptoms for more than 3 days
- blood or mucus in your vomit
- blood or mucus in your stools (poo)
What are the high-risk groups for food poisoning?
People at greater risk of being very sick from food poisoning are those who:
- are pregnant
- are elderly
- are very young
- have a weak immune system due to illness or medicines
Food poisoning can cause serious complications in these people.
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How is food poisoning diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine you.
They will ask about:
- foods you have eaten
- contact with other people who are unwell
- whether you have recently been travelling
Your doctor may recommend some tests, such as a stool (poo) sample, to work out the cause. Sometimes blood tests are recommended.
It can be hard to diagnose food poisoning correctly. Finding the cause — the bacteria or virus — of food poisoning isn't always possible.
How is food poisoning treated?
Most people don't need treatment for food poisoning. You should stay home from work or school and drink plenty of fluids.
For a mild case of food poisoning, you can:
- suck ice chips — to replace lost fluids
- drink oral rehydration fluids — to replace lost electrolytes
Ease back into your normal diet and routine when you feel ready.
If possible, avoid preparing food at home while you're unwell and for 2 days after your symptoms stop.
Antibiotics may help with some bacterial types of food poisoning, but aren't usually needed.
Can food poisoning be prevented?
You can help prevent food poisoning by preparing food safely.
Always maintain good hand hygiene. Always wash your hands before preparing or eating food.
There are some vaccines that can help prevent severe food poisoning. Rotavirus vaccine is given to babies as part of their childhood vaccinations.
Other vaccines may be recommended before travelling to some overseas countries. Talk to your doctor about food safety and travel vaccinations.
Can I avoid food poisoning when I eat out?
By law, Australian food businesses have to follow food standards to keep people safe from food poisoning.
When eating out, make sure to check if the restaurant or café looks clean before ordering.
When ordering food, it's a good idea to:
- avoid high risk foods
- ask for the food to be cooked freshly
- don't eat lukewarm foods
- avoid food that looks like it has been stored for several days
- if you are unsure, ask how the food was prepared and stored
Complications of food poisoning
Food poisoning can cause dehydration and can sometimes cause serious problems like kidney failure.
Sometimes people can die from food poisoning.
Resources and support
NSW Government has more information about listeria and pregnancy.
Watch this video about safe food practices for meal preparation. It's available in English as well as in languages other than English.
Nearest Medicare Urgent Care Clinical can be found here.
Victoria State Government has more information about eating out safely.
Further information about food poisoning is available here, in English and translated into other languages.
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: March 2025
