FOODBOURNE ILLNESSES This information is provided by Eat Right Ontario Y ou may feel the effects of food poisoning right after eating a contaminated food or you may not feel sick until a few days or a month later. In most cases, the symptoms don’t last very long. Often people don’t even realize they have a foodborne illness because it can feel like the flu. Foodborne illnesses, however, can be very serious and even fatal. Some people are more likely to become seriously ill than others. These include infants and young children, pregnant women, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer, liver disease and AIDS. In some cases, foodborne illness can cause long term problems such as kidney damage, arthritis or heart problems. Which bacteria are to blame? Scientists have identified hundreds of different foodborne illnesses. Some are rare, while others are much more common. The following five bacteria are common causes of...