7 scariest food bugs that can make you sick

Every year thousands of pounds of food products are recalled due to fears of contamination, or the discovery of an organism that could make consumers sick.

But the danger sometimes resides closer to home. Improperly cooking and storing food in your own kitchen can also lead to a bad case of food poisoning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one in six Americans is sickened by food poisoning each year.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and in some cases, food poisoning can be life-threatening. Those at greatest risk for serious complications are infants and young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised autoimmune systems.

Depending on the organism, symptoms can start within an hour to several days after infection. Minor illnesses typically improve on their own, within 48 hours of onset. But if you think you have food poisoning and symptoms persist for more than two or three days, contact your healthcare provider. 

Your doctor may make a diagnosis based on the history of your illness but may sometimes need to run tests like a stool culture. If a bacterial infection is suspected, an antibiotic may be prescribed.

We asked Ken Szwak, PA-C from Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, New Jersey, about common bugs, symptoms of infection and how to avoid them.