Food poisoning symptoms typically start to appear within 2 to 6 hours after eating contaminated food, though this can vary depending on the specific bacteria or virus causing the illness. For example, Staphylococcus aureus can cause symptoms as quickly as 30 minutes to 8 hours after consumption, while others like Salmonella may take 6 hours to 6 days, and Listeria up to two weeks to show symptoms. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and sometimes fever and headache.
Typical onset times by pathogen:
- Staphylococcus aureus: 30 minutes to 8 hours
- Clostridium perfringens: 6 to 24 hours
- Salmonella: 6 hours to 6 days
- Norovirus: 12 to 48 hours
- Campylobacter: 2 to 5 days
- E. coli: 3 to 4 days
- Listeria: up to 2 weeks
Most commonly, people notice symptoms around six hours after eating the contaminated food, but depending on the cause, it can be sooner or much later. Symptoms usually last 12 to 48 hours but can sometimes persist longer. It's important to monitor symptoms and seek medical care if they worsen or persist, especially in vulnerable individuals.
