Food poisoning is something that most of us hate to think about, but unfortunately, it is a reality that we face on a regular basis. While the majority of cases are not serious, there are still plenty of cases that can cause serious complications. If you have experienced food poisoning, then you’ll know how serious it can be. However, what you might not know is where food poisoning can come from. Here, we will focus on steak and look at some of the most common sources of food poisoning and what you can do to avoid them.
Food Poisoning from Beef Steak
Red meat is referred to as steaks, burgers, and other meat-related products like pasties and pies.
While chicken food poisoning may be the most common form of food poisoning, it is closely followed up by meat food poisoning. This type of food poisoning can be just as severe.
Meat poisoning, especially beef, is caused by a lack of proper cooking. You must cook meat until the meat is pink inside and the juices run clear.
This exception applies only to steaks that are still red in the middle. These steaks can be eaten while they are still hot, but their outside will have been kept at high temperatures. Any bacteria that may have been on the meat’s outer surface will be killed.
To prevent cross-contamination, cooked meats such as beef must be kept apart from raw meat. It should be allowed to thaw completely after it has been frozen before it can be cooked.
Beef food poisoning:
There are many bacteria that can cause meat food poisoning, including:
- Campylobacter
- Listeria
- Salmonella
- E.coli
Both salmonella and campylobacter can be found in raw meat. Listeria can be found in cooked meat products, such as pates or cooked meats. salami. Undercooked beef can contain E.coli.
These issues are discussed in greater detail in the bacterial poisoning section.
These types of food poisoning are caused by meat that has been contaminated with bacteria. There is another type, however: food poisoning that results from parasites. This is called ‘toxoplasmosis.
Although it is uncommon, especially in Australia, toxoplasmosis can be the cause for any cases of parasitical foods poisoning. This parasite is found in the digestive systems of animals such as cats and can be easily passed to humans.
This can be caused by eating uncooked beef that contains the parasite, or food or water that has come in contact with infected animal wastes.
Food poisoning can also be caused by washing or rinsing meat before it is cooked. It is often mistakenly thought to be a way to remove germs and bacteria, but it can spread them around the kitchen, which can lead to food poisoning.
This is a common practice with chicken, but it can be equally dangerous. Washing poultry and meat before using is a bad idea.
Beef food poisoning symptoms
Within 48 hours of eating beef, symptoms of food poisoning can appear.
These include:
- Stomach pains/upset stomach
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Aches and Pains
- Feeling generally unwell
If you have a weak immune system, have an underlying medical condition, or are in a high-risk group (e.g. elderly.
Food poisoning symptoms often appear quickly, which can make them stand out from other gastrointestinal diseases.
These symptoms should not be ignored if they become severe and dehydration-related or last more than one week.
Beef food poisoning treatment
This can usually be treated at home in the majority of cases. This means that you should get plenty of rest and replenish fluids lost due to this illness.
This is essential to avoid dehydration.
Talk to your GP if your symptoms are getting worse, such as if you can’t keep fluids down for longer than a few days.
How to prevent beef food poisoning
This advice applies to all types of meat-based food poisoning.
Prevention is better than treatment in cases of food poisoning. This includes paying attention to how food is prepared, stored, and cleaned up on the work surface and utensils.
Cross contamination is another important aspect. Cross contamination is the prevention of raw and cooked meats from infecting each other.