Food poisoning is an illness brought about by consuming foods or drinks that have been contaminated. One of the main reasons why food poisoning occurs is when proper care has not been taken in handling food. If you don’t wash your hands before handling food or don’t keep cold items in the refrigerator, then there’s a high chance for bacteria, toxins or viruses to contaminate the food. Foodborne illnesses account for around 3,000 deaths per year in America alone. Food poisoning generally does not require medical attention, as it usually passes in just a few days, much like a common cold. However, some types of food poisoning are more serious than others. Generally, the elderly, pregnant women or young children and babies are considered high-risk groups.  If you have a pre-existing medical condition you may also suffer from complications as a result of food poisoning, as your immune system may not be able to defend against bacteria and viruses. All of these high-risk groups may even suffer life-threatening side-effects of food poisoning.