Dr. Dickson Ocansey, lecturer, the University of Cape Coast Department of Medical Laboratory Science and a member of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist (GAMLS) has avered that there is a difference between food poisoning and chemical poisoning.
According to him, food poisoning is illness caused by food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or toxins.
Speaking to DC Kwame Kwakye on GBC Radio Central on the topic “Casuses of Food Poisoning” on Saturday, March 16, 2024, he claimed that food poisoning is a common occurrence and mostly possess less serious outcome, and solutions abound.
Delineating the nuances between food poisoning and chemical poisoning, he affirmed that “food poisoning emanates from the chemical reactions resulting from the ingested pathogen-infected food but chemical poisoning is a situation where a chemical substance is added to food”, he stated.
Further, Dr. Ocansey emphasised that chemical poisoning could manifest within a few minutes of taking the substance to manifesting later in the future, highlighting that, the situation is dependent on how efficient the poison is, the dosage, and ones detoxification and elimination systems.
Concerning food poisoning, he stated that “Two individuals can eat the same food and one can suffer from food poisoning but the other wouldn’t. The difference lies in the strength of the immune system of the individual involved and the quantity of the pathogen ingested”, he explained.
The GAMLS member however advised Ghanaians to take good care of their immune systems to be able to fight diseases including food poisoning.
In outlining what can be done to ensure a strong and efficient immune system, he said “we need to have adequate sleep. This is very important and we’ll need to adhere to it. Secondly, we need take in a lot of water and lastly, one needs to take at least a type of fruit a day”, emphasising when these are adhered to, the immune system would be strong enough to fight a alot diseases.
Food poisoning is real and very common and one needs to be watchful of what he eats, where he eats from, and what he eats. “If these few directives are adhered to, the occurrences of food poisoning would abate”, Dr. Ocansey hinted.
