Food poisoning is caused by bacteria like E.coli and Salmonella, this is the common belief among people worldwide but viruses are equally responsible for causing food contamination, say researchers.

Kellogg Schwab, professor at Johns Hopkins University and director of the Johns Hopkins University Water Institute noted on agents that cause food poisoning saying: "There is little recognition that it is beyond bacteria -- there are viruses and protozoa and even prions (which can cause mad cow disease)." He also added that "Noroviruses are far and away the largest potential threat to our foodstuffs," according to CNN.

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The researcher added that about 58 percent of illnesses associated with food caused in man in 2011 were by Noroviruses and not by protozoa or bacteria. Schwab also noted that presence of other viruses like Hepatitis E in foods like pork is still being investigated by the researchers.

"The (cause of) a vast majority of food and water outbreaks are still unknown," Schwab said. He also added, "Although many are probably due to norovirus -- which can still be difficult to detect in foods -- a number of other viruses may also be responsible. Detection techniques have lagged behind the bacteria." Schwab also noted that the detection techniques are improving lately, reported Click On Detroit.

Fruits and vegetables often times lettuce and berries are the agents that carry viruses to man just by harbouring the pathogen on their surfaces from contaminated waters. On certain occasions the viruses are spread from foods like pig liver or duck meat when the infected tissues of such animals are ingested by man.

Though norovirus is best known for the cruise ship outbreaks it is consistently involved in causing diseases in nursing homes, day care centres and wherever a large number of people are found together. Hepatitis A, another culprit involved in causing foodborne illness, infects people when they consume raw shellfish. They are also present on the rough surface of berries; they cause infection if the fruits are had as such without washing. Hepatitis E could be present in lettuce and shellfish just like Hepatitis A and infect people, reported WCVB.

Though it is quite scary to know that simple common foods carry viruses, it is easy to get rid of the pathogen by just washing and cleaning them before ingestion. One should also keep in mind to wash hands before eating to avoid infection. 

TagsLettuce, Berries, Pork Liver, shellfish, food poisoning