Food Poisoning Signs You Can’t Ignore (Even If You Really Want To)

You’re staring into your fridge at that Tupperware container of turkey. Or was it ham? The gravy’s still in there too. And those mashed potatoes.

“When did we actually cook this?”

You can’t quite remember. Was it Christmas? New Year’s? That party last weekend?

Here’s the thing: if you’re asking that question, you probably shouldn’t eat it.

But let’s say you already did. And now you, or someone in your family, isn’t feeling so great.

🤢 Food Poisoning: It Hits Fast (or Slow)

Food poisoning can show up anywhere from 30 minutes to several days after eating contaminated food. Symptoms depend on what bacteria you encountered:

• Salmonella (poultry, eggs): 6-48 hours
• E. coli (undercooked meat): 1-8 days
• Staph (from food left out): 30 min-6 hours
• Listeria (deli meats, soft cheese): 1-4 weeks (!)

🚨 Symptoms You Can’t Ignore

The “I’ll Be Fine” Symptoms:

• Nausea and stomach cramps
• Diarrhea (unpleasant but manageable)
• Mild fever

These might resolve on their own with rest and hydration.

The “Get to Urgent Care NOW” Symptoms:

• 🤢 Vomiting so severe you can’t keep liquids down
• 💩 Diarrhea lasting more than 3 days
• 🩸 Blood in vomit or stool
• 🥵 Fever over 102°F (or 100.4°F in babies)
• 😵 Dizziness, confusion, or extreme weakness
• 👄 Dry mouth, no tears, decreased urination (dehydration)
• 😖 Severe abdominal pain or cramping

👶 Kids Get Hit Harder

Children dehydrate much faster than adults. Watch for:

• No wet diapers in 3+ hours (babies)
• Sunken eyes or soft spot
• Extreme fussiness or lethargy
• Crying without tears

Don’t wait. Bring them in.

What We Can Do

At Night Watch, we treat food poisoning with:

• IV fluids for severe dehydration
• Anti-nausea medications to stop vomiting
• Stool testing if needed to identify bacteria
• Antibiotics (in certain cases)
• Guidance on recovery and prevention

The “When to Toss It” Rule

Save yourself the trouble next time:

• Cooked turkey/ham: 3-4 days in fridge
• Gravy/stuffing: 1-2 days
• Casseroles: 3-4 days
• Rule of thumb: When in doubt, throw it out