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21
FOOD POISONING
In all instances of notified Pood Poisoning, or suspected
Food Poisoning, immediate and careful enquiry is made and full
bacteriological examinations carried out. For many years, I have
observed in Croydon outbreaks of nausea and vomiting, sometimes
accompanied by diarrhoea, occurring mainly in connection with
schools. These are always fully investigated and the results
rule out any common article of food or drink as being the cause,
while all the specimens submitted for bacteriological examination,
show no organisms of food poisoning. The outbreaks are commonly
of short duration and the illness is not severe, although the
abrupt onset is embarrassing for the children and annoying for
those required to cope with the consequences. A similar outbreak
occurred in the Croydon branch of a multiple stores, whose medical
staff co-operated in an immediate and most thorough examination,
which included many specimens from patients in the actual
course of the illness. All were completely negative for any type
of pathogenic organism. Such outbreaks have been described in
this country and abroad and whilst there are conflicting theories
regarding the cause, the view most generally accepted is that
they are due to a virus, which is spread by droplet infection in
the same way as influenza or the common cold. It must be emphasised
that the diagnosis may be made only when there is irrefutable
evidence that no common foodstuff has been consumed.
Similar negative bacteriological findings have been observed in
mild outbreaks of food poisoning, where a common foodstuff has
been consumed, which was of the type likely to become infected
and which had been prepared or kept in conditions favouring such
a mishap. The fact that all those consuming the suspected food
are not affected does not rule out its possible culpability.
While there is still much to be learned in regard to food poisoning,
the soundness of the teaching given by the department for
the prevention of this condition has been amply confirmed in all
the enquiries which we have carried out. The basic requirement
is a high standard of education and conduct for food handlers.