This can happen due to improper handling of food, improper storing, as well as not adequately cooking the food before serving. In some cases, cooked food left out for too long can cause food poisoning.
This happens because food can possibly be contaminated at any point before you eat it, which can cause you to become ill.
Why are the Elderly at Risk?
Most people who experience food poisoning usually recover without any serious problems. But when it comes to the elderly, their immune systems are not as strong as they used to, so they are more prone to chronic infections.
And as people grow older, their bodies undergo changes that can increase the risk of food poisoning.
One is that as people grow older, food stays longer inside the gastrointestinal tract. This means that any bacteria present in the food will have time to grow and cause illness. This is compounded by the fact that the stomach produces less stomach acids, which aside from digesting food, also helps kill any harmful bacteria.
The liver and kidneys also do not function as well in older people compared to younger people.