Food Poisoning- Cheese [General]
2007 Sep 26
Are you sure it was the cheese? Did you have it tested? It is the only way to know that is what caused it. Also, it is not fair to the cheese store & the cheese maker to say such things without proof.
There is a sickness going around right now that feels like food poisioning. My daughter had it, I had it a week later, also my neighbours had it & a friend all over a 2 week period. Thought it was something we ate but if people I don't share food with are sick it seems it was not food related.
Hope your feeling better, but think twice about pointing the finger at a small business without proof. Hard enough to make it against the box stores.
There is a sickness going around right now that feels like food poisioning. My daughter had it, I had it a week later, also my neighbours had it & a friend all over a 2 week period. Thought it was something we ate but if people I don't share food with are sick it seems it was not food related.
Hope your feeling better, but think twice about pointing the finger at a small business without proof. Hard enough to make it against the box stores.
2007 Sep 26
Hi,
As an ex-lawyer, I think very, very carefully about everything I say publicly---and I do not take these things lightly. In fact I pondered my post quite seriously and ultimately decided that it was more important to say it than not to.
And if I had not been certain I would never have posted it (I did say there was no question in my mind). I was actually quite angry about it--my daughter and I both ended up in the hospital, it was very severe. We were both fine, we both ate (ONLY) the cheese and some crackers (already consumed prior to that time) late in the morning, and within hours we were both so ill I decided to go to the emergency. Quite frankly, if my daughter had not been involved, I probably would not have gone to the hospital, but she was having problems breathing as she could not stop throwing up. I was quite angry at this point. I know these things happen---but I did not want anyone else to go through this.
There was no doubt in the minds of the doctors that it *was* food poisoning--and I *am* still considering testing--I half half the round left-in fact to get this sick from half a small round of cheese (1/4 for each of us)---really just a few generous crackers worth -meant that the bacterial content in it must have been quite high.
Kristl
As an ex-lawyer, I think very, very carefully about everything I say publicly---and I do not take these things lightly. In fact I pondered my post quite seriously and ultimately decided that it was more important to say it than not to.
And if I had not been certain I would never have posted it (I did say there was no question in my mind). I was actually quite angry about it--my daughter and I both ended up in the hospital, it was very severe. We were both fine, we both ate (ONLY) the cheese and some crackers (already consumed prior to that time) late in the morning, and within hours we were both so ill I decided to go to the emergency. Quite frankly, if my daughter had not been involved, I probably would not have gone to the hospital, but she was having problems breathing as she could not stop throwing up. I was quite angry at this point. I know these things happen---but I did not want anyone else to go through this.
There was no doubt in the minds of the doctors that it *was* food poisoning--and I *am* still considering testing--I half half the round left-in fact to get this sick from half a small round of cheese (1/4 for each of us)---really just a few generous crackers worth -meant that the bacterial content in it must have been quite high.
Kristl
2007 Sep 26
Since my last post, I actually called my inspector at CFIA (I already use them for my own business)- a file has been created, and someone will be out this week to pick up the remaining cheese to have it tested. At this point, I want to know what bacteria could have made me this sick (stomach-of-iron sort of woman that I am).
Kristl
Kristl
2007 Sep 26
Since my last post, I actually called my inspector at CFIA (I already use them for my own business)- a file has been created, and someone will be out this week to pick up the remaining cheese to have it tested. At this point, I want to know what bacteria could have made me this sick (stomach-of-iron sort of woman that I am).
Kristl
Kristl
2007 Sep 26
Food Poisoning vs food allergies
It would be interesting to find out if it was contaminated! Keep us posted.
I have often had food poisoning symptoms but in the end I was okay.
I have found that sometimes food allergies cause symptoms of food poisoning - vomiting, stomach cramps, lethargy. For instance, if I eat scallops, I am sick for 24 yrs. I start vomiting as soon as I get home and incapacitated for the rest of the day. I used to be that way with chocolate milk.
If I eat anything with orange food colouring, I have big mood swings so no canned mandarines for me! Papaya makes my throat swell, the same for celery!
Was this the first time you have had this cheese? I hope you are okay. Food poisoning can kill you!
It would be interesting to find out if it was contaminated! Keep us posted.
I have often had food poisoning symptoms but in the end I was okay.
I have found that sometimes food allergies cause symptoms of food poisoning - vomiting, stomach cramps, lethargy. For instance, if I eat scallops, I am sick for 24 yrs. I start vomiting as soon as I get home and incapacitated for the rest of the day. I used to be that way with chocolate milk.
If I eat anything with orange food colouring, I have big mood swings so no canned mandarines for me! Papaya makes my throat swell, the same for celery!
Was this the first time you have had this cheese? I hope you are okay. Food poisoning can kill you!
2007 Sep 26
Glad your both ok now & also that you called the cfia.
Know what you mean about being upset while watching your child suffer. Had the same feeling when I thought my daughter had food poisoning but it turned out it was some sort of stomach virus like I mentioned before.
Too bad I had not known it was a virus before I threw out everything she ate that day & the day before just in case it was causing it. Such a waste.
Looking forward to hearing the results.
Know what you mean about being upset while watching your child suffer. Had the same feeling when I thought my daughter had food poisoning but it turned out it was some sort of stomach virus like I mentioned before.
Too bad I had not known it was a virus before I threw out everything she ate that day & the day before just in case it was causing it. Such a waste.
Looking forward to hearing the results.
2007 Sep 27
Zymurgist---it was my own concerns about "another food ban" that was high on my list of questioning whether "to test or not to test"---my life tendency is to stay away generally from the powers-that-be....laying low in these (and other) matters is my usual tactic.
Witchypoo---my doctor has confirmed to me what i have always suspected---the fact that i work intimately with so many serious allergins (and potential poisons) has been very good for my immune system. I collect, and clean thousands of species of seed from plants from all over the world and get exposed daily to things that I could not even begin to explain here. She is convinced that this is part of why I am one very strong woman. And my stomach is even stronger---which is why this bout of food poisoning really threw me for a loop...
and Pete-In-Ottawa---I have already heard food and food-related stories that could curl your hair--things that have been discovered in some routine food inspections of factories, farms, stores, boxes of imported food....In the juggling between consumer and producer and seller I have decidedly less empathy with the latter two when I know what does goes on, and can go on. But it surely does not stop me from food-obessing.
Kristl
Witchypoo---my doctor has confirmed to me what i have always suspected---the fact that i work intimately with so many serious allergins (and potential poisons) has been very good for my immune system. I collect, and clean thousands of species of seed from plants from all over the world and get exposed daily to things that I could not even begin to explain here. She is convinced that this is part of why I am one very strong woman. And my stomach is even stronger---which is why this bout of food poisoning really threw me for a loop...
and Pete-In-Ottawa---I have already heard food and food-related stories that could curl your hair--things that have been discovered in some routine food inspections of factories, farms, stores, boxes of imported food....In the juggling between consumer and producer and seller I have decidedly less empathy with the latter two when I know what does goes on, and can go on. But it surely does not stop me from food-obessing.
Kristl
2007 Sep 27
Just a few general comments about "food poisoning". The CFIA has some very good information about the many and various types of foodborne illnesses.
www.inspection.gc.ca
My family doctor advised me that while we generally assume the last thing we ate was the culprit of our intestinal distress, (and in many cases becomes a food that we then develop a complete aversion to) in fact, several of the various foodborne illnesses take effect 24 hours or even days after ingesting, so we should be careful not to blame the last thing we ate. (And the first thing we expel!!)
www.inspection.gc.ca
My family doctor advised me that while we generally assume the last thing we ate was the culprit of our intestinal distress, (and in many cases becomes a food that we then develop a complete aversion to) in fact, several of the various foodborne illnesses take effect 24 hours or even days after ingesting, so we should be careful not to blame the last thing we ate. (And the first thing we expel!!)
2007 Sep 29
Very sorry to hear about your experience Kristl, and hope you and your daughter feel much better now. I am especially upset because my hubby is always bringing home his cheese finds from the Market, including Bottega, and he is a bit of a sucker for "specials". I keep telling him, no bargain cheese, please! I will warn him about this. I know yours was not near the sell-by, and we have had that cheese before, so it is especially upsetting.
2007 Sep 29
Dear FF,
Well, the suspect cheese was actually a "special" although the expiry date was still a month off. Because it was cheap, and because I was trying to force myself to be open minded to munster (which I don't normally like), I got it.
I actually have absolutely no qualms generally about close-to-expiry cheeses.
I am nervous about other perishables, but not cheeses. Often I find that some of them are at their almost perfect ripeness then, although I may be wrong about that.
Because I only come into town about once a month (or less)and food I can't grow myself or buy locally here is often my greatest motivation. So when I come, I don't waste time, and equip myself for at least a month or more. Typically, I am spending $50-60 just on cheeses (again, typically small trial pieces of as many new kinds as intice me). Of these there will always be 1/4 "specials" some very close to expiry. These I eat first, and dole the remainder out over the
4-6 next weeks.
After such an absence, it makes the next trip even more exciting.
Kristl
Well, the suspect cheese was actually a "special" although the expiry date was still a month off. Because it was cheap, and because I was trying to force myself to be open minded to munster (which I don't normally like), I got it.
I actually have absolutely no qualms generally about close-to-expiry cheeses.
I am nervous about other perishables, but not cheeses. Often I find that some of them are at their almost perfect ripeness then, although I may be wrong about that.
Because I only come into town about once a month (or less)and food I can't grow myself or buy locally here is often my greatest motivation. So when I come, I don't waste time, and equip myself for at least a month or more. Typically, I am spending $50-60 just on cheeses (again, typically small trial pieces of as many new kinds as intice me). Of these there will always be 1/4 "specials" some very close to expiry. These I eat first, and dole the remainder out over the
4-6 next weeks.
After such an absence, it makes the next trip even more exciting.
Kristl
Kristl
I have not been here for a while, as I have been nursing a rather severe case of food poisoning no question related to a batch of cheese I purchased last week in the market.
There was no expiry date issue, and according to the vendor, a cheese that they bring in weekly. I was given an apology (and promise of my money back---which was hardly an issue to me). I just do hope they pull it. As for me, it's not a cheese I would ever go near again, with the memories of whatever bacteria it contained still so close to my stomach.
It was a French munster (Petit Munster Gerome) (Jean Roussey)purchased at Le Bottega. No raw milk cheese issue either (which is not of great concern to me in any event).
Kristl