L eading an active life often means eating on the go, especially in summer.
But just as summer weather helps our gardens grow, it makes the growing easy for bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses or food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning can be mild or severe, often occur suddenly, and can include abdominal cramps, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Botulism poisoning stands alone in severity and is often fatal. Danger signs of botulism are a medical emergency and include double vision, weakening of muscles, and difficulty swallowing and breathing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that almost one quarter of all food poisoning cases are from foods prepared at home.