TAKEAWAYS are the cause of for thousands of cases of norovirus a year, a study suggests.
Results from a five-year inquiry have estimated that around 380,000 cases of the winter vomiting bug linked to food occur in the UK every year.
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This is just over 12 per cent of all three million norovirus cases annually, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said.
Around 2.4 million cases of food poisoning are occurring every year – more than double the estimate in 2009, according to the FSA.
In 2009 about a million cases were recorded.
An investigation from the FSA found that takeaways account for 26 per cent of all food borne norovirus cases, while eating out accounts for 37 per cent.
Meals requiring human contact
It also found that open-headed lettuce accounts for 30 per cent of all cases, while raspberries on retail is four per cent and oysters at three per cent.
The FSA’s study tested food for contamination of the virus during preparation.
The researchers found that meals requiring human contact, such as a sandwich or kebab, were more likely to pass on norovirus than meals such as fish and chips.
Professor Guy Poppy, chief scientific adviser to the FSA, said: “We are not changing our advice to consumers and businesses.
“Instead this research reinforces the need for the highest standards of good personal and food hygiene practices in catering establishments and at home to avoid infection.”
Five ways to beat norovirus
- Stay at home if you are experiencing norovirus symptoms. Do not return to work or send children to school until 48 hours after symptoms have cleared. Also avoid visiting elderly or poorly relatives, particularly if they are in hospital.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water. Alcohol hand gels don’t kill norovirus.
- When an infected person vomits, the droplets contaminate the surrounding surfaces. A bleach-based household cleaner or a combination of bleach and hot water should be used to disinfect potentially contaminated household surfaces and commonly used objects such as toilets, taps, telephones, door handles and kitchen surfaces.
- If you are ill, avoid cooking and helping prepare meals for others until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped, as norovirus can be spread through food contaminated by the virus when food is handled by symptomatic people/infected individuals contaminated food.
- Wash any contaminated clothing or bedding using detergent and at 60°C, and if possible wear disposable gloves to handle contaminated items.
Norovirus is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK and is also referred to as “the winter vomiting bug”, although it can affect people all year round.
It is very unpleasant but it usually clears itself up in a few days.
The virus easily spreads around public places and is transmitted when a tiny particle of vomit or poo from an infected person gets into someone else’s mouth.
That sounds a bit gross and unlikely but it can happen – in particular when you touch a contaminated surface and then put your hand in your mouth – or if you eat food which has been contaminated.
According to the NHS website, you are likely to have caught norovirus if you experience a sudden sick feeling, projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea.
Other symptoms can include a slight fever, headaches, painful cramps and aching limbs.
The agency says it will use the new research to inform future efforts to control and reduce the risk of infection posed to the public.
It advises all consumers and food businesses to wash fruit and vegetables before eating them to prevent food poisoning, and following good hygiene practices to avoid the spread of norovirus.
