Allow plenty of time for frozen chickens etc to defrost properly before cooking. Wash knives and chopping boards before and after cutting meat. Don't keep cooked and uncooked meat on the same shelf in the fridge. Store uncooked meat in the bottom of the fridge where it can't drip onto food. Make sure that all meat is cooked through, and test with a fork.
Food poisoning is unpleasant even if it's a mild form.
Symptoms are vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pains and headache, and they usually come on after a few hours but it can be a couple of days. It's caused by bacteria, viruses or substances contaminating food and can last from a few hours to weeks. Food poisoning is the general name for a whole range of bacteria infections including salmonella and E-coli 0157. About 2 million cases occur in the UK in a year but many can be prevented by following the food hygiene rules above and not eating raw meat, fish, shellfish and eggs. If you've got mild food poisoning it usually rights itself if you take to your bed and keep drinking non-alcoholic beverages to prevent dehydration.