Why is “poison” used in the word “food poisoning”? [on hold]
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The word "poison" has stronger feeling but we used in the "food poisoning".
According to Merriam - Webster online dictionary, definition of "food poisoning":
an acute gastrointestinal disorder caused by bacteria or their toxic
products or by chemical residues in food.
It is just disorder no one is adding poison. So why is "poison" used in the word "food poisoning"?
orthography
asked yesterday
Vince Charles
11
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put on hold as unclear what you're asking by AndyT, jimm101, Hellion, J. Taylor, choster 9 hours ago
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
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The word "poison" has stronger feeling but we used in the "food poisoning".
According to Merriam - Webster online dictionary, definition of "food poisoning":
an acute gastrointestinal disorder caused by bacteria or their toxic
products or by chemical residues in food.
It is just disorder no one is adding poison. So why is "poison" used in the word "food poisoning"?
orthography
asked yesterday
Vince Charles
11
New contributor
Vince Charles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as unclear what you're asking by AndyT, jimm101, Hellion, J. Taylor, choster 9 hours ago
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
2
Do you know what toxic means?
– michael.hor257k
yesterday
3
Also, refer to the definition of the noun poison—and note that the verb says nothing about requiring a human agent. So, the food is poisoned by toxins.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
Please clarify what you mean by "poison" has stronger feeling, especially by including a dictionary definition that supports your position.
– AndyT
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
favorite
up vote
-1
down vote
favorite
The word "poison" has stronger feeling but we used in the "food poisoning".
According to Merriam - Webster online dictionary, definition of "food poisoning":
an acute gastrointestinal disorder caused by bacteria or their toxic
products or by chemical residues in food.
It is just disorder no one is adding poison. So why is "poison" used in the word "food poisoning"?
orthography
asked yesterday
Vince Charles
11
New contributor
Vince Charles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
The word "poison" has stronger feeling but we used in the "food poisoning".
According to Merriam - Webster online dictionary, definition of "food poisoning":
an acute gastrointestinal disorder caused by bacteria or their toxic
products or by chemical residues in food.
It is just disorder no one is adding poison. So why is "poison" used in the word "food poisoning"?
orthography
orthography
asked yesterday
Vince Charles
11
New contributor
Vince Charles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Vince Charles
11
New contributor
Vince Charles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Vince Charles
11
New contributor
Vince Charles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Vince Charles
11
asked yesterday
Vince Charles
11
11
New contributor
Vince Charles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Vince Charles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Vince Charles is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
put on hold as unclear what you're asking by AndyT, jimm101, Hellion, J. Taylor, choster 9 hours ago
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
put on hold as unclear what you're asking by AndyT, jimm101, Hellion, J. Taylor, choster 9 hours ago
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
2
Do you know what toxic means?
– michael.hor257k
yesterday
3
Also, refer to the definition of the noun poison—and note that the verb says nothing about requiring a human agent. So, the food is poisoned by toxins.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
Please clarify what you mean by "poison" has stronger feeling, especially by including a dictionary definition that supports your position.
– AndyT
yesterday
add a comment |
2
Do you know what toxic means?
– michael.hor257k
yesterday
3
Also, refer to the definition of the noun poison—and note that the verb says nothing about requiring a human agent. So, the food is poisoned by toxins.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
Please clarify what you mean by "poison" has stronger feeling, especially by including a dictionary definition that supports your position.
– AndyT
yesterday
2
2
Do you know what toxic means?
– michael.hor257k
yesterday
Do you know what toxic means?
– michael.hor257k
yesterday
3
3
Also, refer to the definition of the noun poison—and note that the verb says nothing about requiring a human agent. So, the food is poisoned by toxins.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
Also, refer to the definition of the noun poison—and note that the verb says nothing about requiring a human agent. So, the food is poisoned by toxins.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
Please clarify what you mean by "poison" has stronger feeling, especially by including a dictionary definition that supports your position.
– AndyT
yesterday
Please clarify what you mean by "poison" has stronger feeling, especially by including a dictionary definition that supports your position.
– AndyT
yesterday
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Everyday language for medical issues is often based on old theories, and our understanding of germs is fairly recent. Consider, for example, malaria ("bad air"). Etymonline has food poisoning from 1864. Despite earlier attempts to explain disease in terms of germs, our current understanding of infectious organisms starts around a similar time. I suspect that this is no coincidence, that the term reflects a developing understanding of a food-borne cause.
In fact some food poisonings, including some of the most severe, are caused by species that don't thrive in a human host, but grow and produce toxins in/on the food before it's eaten. Botulism "is an intoxication usually caused by ingestion of potent neurotoxins, the botulinum toxins, formed in contaminated foods." (WHO fact sheet). So poisoning is more correct than infection in those cases, and person-to-person transmission is impossible. It's a case of a pathogen outside the body putting a toxin into your food that then makes you ill - poisoning is apt.
On the other hand E. coli, for example, is a bacteria species that often causes a food-borne infection (it occurs in the lower gut anyway, but causes illnesswhen ingested via the so-called faecal-oral route) (NHS). This is also described as food poisoning, and not inaccurately, as the bacteria "produce toxins (Shiga toxins) that can cause severe illness" (same NHS link). It's just that they do so in your body.
answered yesterday
Chris H
16.9k43173
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
Everyday language for medical issues is often based on old theories, and our understanding of germs is fairly recent. Consider, for example, malaria ("bad air"). Etymonline has food poisoning from 1864. Despite earlier attempts to explain disease in terms of germs, our current understanding of infectious organisms starts around a similar time. I suspect that this is no coincidence, that the term reflects a developing understanding of a food-borne cause.
In fact some food poisonings, including some of the most severe, are caused by species that don't thrive in a human host, but grow and produce toxins in/on the food before it's eaten. Botulism "is an intoxication usually caused by ingestion of potent neurotoxins, the botulinum toxins, formed in contaminated foods." (WHO fact sheet). So poisoning is more correct than infection in those cases, and person-to-person transmission is impossible. It's a case of a pathogen outside the body putting a toxin into your food that then makes you ill - poisoning is apt.
On the other hand E. coli, for example, is a bacteria species that often causes a food-borne infection (it occurs in the lower gut anyway, but causes illnesswhen ingested via the so-called faecal-oral route) (NHS). This is also described as food poisoning, and not inaccurately, as the bacteria "produce toxins (Shiga toxins) that can cause severe illness" (same NHS link). It's just that they do so in your body.
answered yesterday
Chris H
16.9k43173
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Everyday language for medical issues is often based on old theories, and our understanding of germs is fairly recent. Consider, for example, malaria ("bad air"). Etymonline has food poisoning from 1864. Despite earlier attempts to explain disease in terms of germs, our current understanding of infectious organisms starts around a similar time. I suspect that this is no coincidence, that the term reflects a developing understanding of a food-borne cause.
In fact some food poisonings, including some of the most severe, are caused by species that don't thrive in a human host, but grow and produce toxins in/on the food before it's eaten. Botulism "is an intoxication usually caused by ingestion of potent neurotoxins, the botulinum toxins, formed in contaminated foods." (WHO fact sheet). So poisoning is more correct than infection in those cases, and person-to-person transmission is impossible. It's a case of a pathogen outside the body putting a toxin into your food that then makes you ill - poisoning is apt.
On the other hand E. coli, for example, is a bacteria species that often causes a food-borne infection (it occurs in the lower gut anyway, but causes illnesswhen ingested via the so-called faecal-oral route) (NHS). This is also described as food poisoning, and not inaccurately, as the bacteria "produce toxins (Shiga toxins) that can cause severe illness" (same NHS link). It's just that they do so in your body.
answered yesterday
Chris H
16.9k43173
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Everyday language for medical issues is often based on old theories, and our understanding of germs is fairly recent. Consider, for example, malaria ("bad air"). Etymonline has food poisoning from 1864. Despite earlier attempts to explain disease in terms of germs, our current understanding of infectious organisms starts around a similar time. I suspect that this is no coincidence, that the term reflects a developing understanding of a food-borne cause.
In fact some food poisonings, including some of the most severe, are caused by species that don't thrive in a human host, but grow and produce toxins in/on the food before it's eaten. Botulism "is an intoxication usually caused by ingestion of potent neurotoxins, the botulinum toxins, formed in contaminated foods." (WHO fact sheet). So poisoning is more correct than infection in those cases, and person-to-person transmission is impossible. It's a case of a pathogen outside the body putting a toxin into your food that then makes you ill - poisoning is apt.
On the other hand E. coli, for example, is a bacteria species that often causes a food-borne infection (it occurs in the lower gut anyway, but causes illnesswhen ingested via the so-called faecal-oral route) (NHS). This is also described as food poisoning, and not inaccurately, as the bacteria "produce toxins (Shiga toxins) that can cause severe illness" (same NHS link). It's just that they do so in your body.
answered yesterday
Chris H
16.9k43173
Everyday language for medical issues is often based on old theories, and our understanding of germs is fairly recent. Consider, for example, malaria ("bad air"). Etymonline has food poisoning from 1864. Despite earlier attempts to explain disease in terms of germs, our current understanding of infectious organisms starts around a similar time. I suspect that this is no coincidence, that the term reflects a developing understanding of a food-borne cause.
In fact some food poisonings, including some of the most severe, are caused by species that don't thrive in a human host, but grow and produce toxins in/on the food before it's eaten. Botulism "is an intoxication usually caused by ingestion of potent neurotoxins, the botulinum toxins, formed in contaminated foods." (WHO fact sheet). So poisoning is more correct than infection in those cases, and person-to-person transmission is impossible. It's a case of a pathogen outside the body putting a toxin into your food that then makes you ill - poisoning is apt.
On the other hand E. coli, for example, is a bacteria species that often causes a food-borne infection (it occurs in the lower gut anyway, but causes illnesswhen ingested via the so-called faecal-oral route) (NHS). This is also described as food poisoning, and not inaccurately, as the bacteria "produce toxins (Shiga toxins) that can cause severe illness" (same NHS link). It's just that they do so in your body.
answered yesterday
Chris H
16.9k43173
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
Chris H
16.9k43173
answered yesterday
Chris H
16.9k43173
answered yesterday
Chris H
16.9k43173
16.9k43173
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add a comment |
2
Do you know what toxic means?
– michael.hor257k
yesterday
3
Also, refer to the definition of the noun poison—and note that the verb says nothing about requiring a human agent. So, the food is poisoned by toxins.
– Jason Bassford
yesterday
Please clarify what you mean by "poison" has stronger feeling, especially by including a dictionary definition that supports your position.
– AndyT
yesterday