Intoxication occurs when a pathogen produces its toxin in food, and the food containing the toxin is consumed. In this case, the toxin is responsible for making someone sick. With intoxication, it is not the organism itself, as is the case with infections. It is important to remember that toxins - once formed in food - cannot be destroyed with heat nor chemicals. Therefore, it is important to ensure food is handled and stored safely so that contamination by a toxin does not occur. Vomiting is the most common symptom resulting from bacterial intoxication.

Now that you know about infection and intoxication, let's dive a little bit deeper into specific agents of importance in food-related illnesses.