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food poisoning
noun
: an acute gastrointestinal disorder caused by bacteria or their toxic products or by chemical residues in food
Examples of food poisoning in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Just as well, since that would be a recipe for food poisoning.
—Julia Buckley, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
First, food poisoning kept him from attending the exhibition against Kentucky State.
—Ryan Black, The Courier-Journal, 20 Jan. 2024
Betty Bowman, a pharmacist, was hospitalized on Aug. 16, 2023, with symptoms similar to food poisoning after drinking with her husband at home, according to a criminal complaint filed by Minnesota state authorities.
—Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2024
Generally, food poisoning is common, and there are several national outbreaks each year in the United States.
—Amanda Gardner, Health, 29 Oct. 2023
About 1,600 people are sickened by listeria food poisoning every year, according to the CDC.
—Jonel Aleccia, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2024
Containing oligosaccharides — known for their prebiotic gut effects and promoting good flora — antioxidant-rich Mānuka honey also aids gastric and peptic ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, dyspepsia, GERD, Staph infections and even food poisoning.
—Kate Donnelly, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Staph food poisoning usually starts with stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 5 Feb. 2024
The longer raw fish sits around in a kitchen, the higher the likelihood of food poisoning.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'food poisoning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1856, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near food poisoning
Cite this Entry
“Food poisoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food%20poisoning. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.
Kids Definition
food poisoning
noun
: a digestive sickness caused by bacteria or by chemicals in food
Medical Definition
food poisoning
noun1
: either of two acute gastrointestinal disorders caused by bacteria or their toxic products:
a
: a rapidly developing intoxication marked by nausea, vomiting, prostration, and often severe diarrhea and caused by the presence in food of toxic products produced by bacteria (as some staphylococci)
b
: a less rapidly developing infection especially with salmonellae that has generally similar symptoms and that results from multiplication of bacteria ingested with contaminated food
2
: a gastrointestinal disturbance occurring after consumption of food that is contaminated with chemical residues (as from sprays) or food (as some fungi) that is inherently unsuitable for human consumption
More from Merriam-Webster on food poisoning
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about food poisoning
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