Google me: Eat, drink and be ill - dinner has a downside

By JULIET ROWAN


Saturday brought the unsavoury news that New Zealand has the highest rate of food poisoning in the developed world.

Our rate of campylobacter last year was almost five times that of Australia in 2002 and 10 times the rate in Canada.

Scientists were at a loss to explain why the nasty bacterium, which is the leading cause of food poisoning, was running rampant.

Suggestions included contact with animals, poor poultry-industry hygiene, and the Kiwi lifestyle - our love of barbecues and tendency to eat food that has been sitting out for too long.

Looking up "food poisoning" on Google shows the scale of the problem overseas.

The US Centres for Disease Control says that every year, food-borne diseases cause about 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalisations and 5000 deaths in America.

Two to 3 per cent of cases may result in permanent injuries or health damage (Stop USA).

"Campylobacter is everywhere!" screams Dr Greene.

Almost all animals carry the bacteria, the site says. And it doesn't stop there: "[Campylobacter] can be found on the legs of flies, inside the shells of oysters, the cages of hamsters, the litter boxes of cats, and the diapers of toddlers."

The bacteria cause severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever.

So how to avoid it?

Dr Greene says the best prevention for campylobacter is proper food handling and cooking, good hand washing, and clean water supplies.

"When handling raw meat or poultry, consider them contaminated."


In 1996, an outbreak of E.coli food poisoning in Scotland killed 21 people and hospitalised hundreds. The outbreak occurred after infected meat and gravy were served to pensioners at a church lunch, and lasted for months (World Socialist Website).

In the United States, where many schools provide lunches, groups such as Safe Tables Our Priority lobby the Government to ensure food is safe.

Its website, Stop USA, has a host of food-poisoning horror stories.

But sometimes no amount of preparation will protect you. Look at traveller David Chapman:

"My plan to trek the Inca Trail in Peru was almost blown away. Thinking all precautions had been taken, including a visit to the GP, vaccinations and medication for every contingency; the dreaded Montezuma's Revenge struck.

"Was it the meal of guinea pig, the Pisco sours or the other exotic food?

"Care was taken and only bottled water drunk. Tap water used to clean my teeth was the culprit ... To add injury to insult, while arising from the low 'throne', I did my back in."
(YHA).