# Which food might have caused my distress? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2021, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610 "2021-07-29T22:23:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/1 "2021-07-29T22:23:37Z")
Some disgusting details but I toned it down. We ate out last night at one of our usual places. Got done eating at 10:00 pm. I had a normal meal: 6oz top sirloin medium rare, baked potato and garden salad with ranch dressing. The steak was not too rare, not bloody. The potato was fresh and hot, not wrinkled from sitting around. The salad was fine, no soggy lettuce or anything. I went to bed about 2:00 am and was already passing gas by then. This continued all night, very bad gas. I got up to urinate about 4:00, no problem. I got up again around 6:00 and my urine smelled almost like I had eaten asparagus. No stomach problems so I ate a small breakfast at 10:00 am the next day. Then at noon I had sudden and uncontrollable diarrhea. Didn’t make it to the toilet. I actually discarded some clothing. And that was it. No upset stomach or anything. I have been fine all day and had a late lunch of spicy Buffalo wings. What the Hell? I have never had diarrhea like that before. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/2 "2021-07-29T22:45:00Z")
I would guess if it was from your dinner, possibly E. Coli or some other contamination of the salad lettuce or other raw vegetables in the salad. That’s been pretty common lately- there have been several recalls of romaine lettuce from certain regions in the last couple years. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/3 "2021-07-29T22:48:52Z")
Of those items, I’m voting for the salad as well. Otherwise, my only other question would be, are you lactose intolerant? Because that kind of sounds like what happens to me if I eat some dairy without any precautions (Lactaid). ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/4 "2021-07-29T22:54:32Z")
Also, of those items, I would consider the salad or the ranch dressing. Years ago, I had a similar bout from “homemade” mayonnaise at the deli where I bought lunch. I knew the moment I bit into the sandwich something was wrong. It only took 3 hours to work through my system and make me join the quick weight-loss program. However, it could also have been a not-clean plate, glass, or silverware. It could also have been already lurking in your belly or otherwise. You can report it medically and and request to know if other cases occurred, or call the restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/5 "2021-07-30T01:44:51Z")
I’m thinking FODMAP, as that’s exactly how my partner is affected. What exactly was in the salad? Possible candidates include onion, garlic, mushrooms, apple, pear, lentils, other pulses/beans … ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/6 "2021-07-30T02:53:48Z")
This. The steak was a whole muscle cut, and if it was medium-rare, the inside was about 130-135, and the outside was well over 200, I’m sure. That means it was effectively pasteurized, as the bacteria is generally on the surface of whole muscle cuts. Same thing for the potato- baking potatoes generally gets them plenty hot enough to kill anything. But salads are eaten raw, and the dressing is generally not cooked either. So it could be something on the salad greens or vegetables, or it could have been something in the dressing if it wasn’t stored properly. I’d look at the salad, and potentially at what you had the meal before; there’s no guarantees that you blasted out what you ate for dinner the day before- it could have been lunch! ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/7 "2021-07-30T03:24:44Z")
The salad had romaine, onions, tomato, cucumber, croutons and cheese that I recall. But I’ve been eating salad all my life as well as the other things you mention. I’m inclined to go with E Coli on the lettuce. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/8 "2021-07-30T04:17:01Z")
> [@bump](#): > > it could be something on the salad greens or vegetables, or it could have been something in the dressing if it wasn’t stored properly. True. Or it could have been on the plates/tableware etc. Or it could have been something you ate earlier in the day, or even the day before. It isn’t always the most recent meal that’s responsible. > [@mixdenny](#): > > I’m inclined to go with E Coli on the lettuce. Pathogenic E coli can be on nearly anything. (Non-pathogenic E coli can too, and is a lot more common; but you’re unlikely to find out about it.) ---
**Author:** ![Safe\_Haven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/safe_haven/32/8553_2.png) [@Safe\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Safe_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/9 "2021-07-30T04:40:59Z")
Or someone who touched your food didn’t wash their hands. It could have been anything that contaminated something you ate up to 72 hours prior to ‘the event’. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/10 "2021-07-30T11:28:21Z")
I’d put my money on the salad. > [@carnut](#): > > You can report it medically and and request to know if other cases occurred, or call the restaurant. A few years ago I attended an oyster festival in Pittsburgh. Severe intestinal distress the next day. Severe. Curious, I called the County Health Department and asked about reporting a food related illness. She asked me if this was involving the oyster festival! I have attended the festival since without illness. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/11 "2021-07-30T22:09:37Z")
Sounds a lot like norovirus. _Extremely_ contagious, and could have been from anyone in the restaurant (sneezing, touching your plate, etc) Not necessarily food-related. Sorry for no cite, but I haven’t mastered attachments on my tablet yet. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/12 "2021-07-31T11:36:25Z")
One and done, doesn’t sound like norovirus to me. (I confess I am always a titch amused, watching people Sherlock their way to a conclusion on what triggered their bad digestive issues. It reminds me of what my hubs always asks, if I tell him the cat threw up, in the night, ‘What time was it?’ Like, what possible difference could that make? And how could any answer proposed possibly be vetted as accurate, probable or even likely? HaHaHa!) ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/13 "2021-07-31T15:35:05Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > And how could any answer proposed possibly be vetted as accurate, probable or even likely? How about if I saved a sample of each food in the fridge? If I die, have the wife run it by the coroner if she wants to. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/14 "2021-07-31T16:08:04Z")
Ok, you got me there! Hadn’t considered that. ---
**Author:** ![ryan1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3da27b/32.png) [@ryan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/15 "2021-08-04T17:39:37Z")
It’s a brave man or woman who shits their pants and then goes out for spicy buffalo wings. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/16 "2021-08-04T21:38:30Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > It reminds me of what my hubs always asks, if I tell him the cat threw up, in the night, ‘What time was it?’ Like, what possible difference could that make? Did you clean it up or is that his job? If him, time relates to temperature - is he cleaning up warm or cold puke? Warm needs extra paper towel as insulation against the ickyness factor. What? We are manly men, but we are slightly squeamish manly men! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/17 "2021-08-04T23:08:03Z")
HaHaHa! That’s hilarious, hubs cleaning up cat puke? Not in my lifetime. As the earlier riser, all animal digestive issues are my purview, of course. He’s not squeamish. But he’s pretty shitty at cleaning things up, by design, or a natural gift? Who can tell? It used to piss me off, no lie. 37 yrs. However, I convinced myself he has other charms, real or imagined? Who can tell? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-food-might-have-caused-my-distress/947610/18 "2021-08-06T17:55:10Z")
“I commend to your attention the curious affair of the cat throwing up in the night.” “But the cat _didn’t_ throw up in the night.” “That, my dear Doper, is the curious affair.”