Can You Get Gastroenteritis From Pasta Sauce?

Gastroenteritis is an infection in the stomach and intestines that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to Cleveland Clinic. Gastroenteritis caused by food is commonly due to food poisoning. While this often develops after exposure to raw, undercooked, or contaminated meat, shellfish, dairy products, fruits, or vegetables, it’s possible to acquire harmful bacteria or viruses from pasta sauce if the producer didn’t make it in a hygienic environment.

A food allergy can cause symptoms similar to those of gastroenteritis, even though there is no actual infection. Pasta sauces may contain milk, fish, or tomatoes, which can trigger allergies. If you develop stomach pain or other gastrointestinal symptoms after eating pasta sauce, speak to a healthcare professional to determine the cause of your symptoms.

How Can Eating Pasta Sauce Cause an Upset Stomach?

Gastroenteritis that develops after eating pasta sauce can occur due to food poisoning. After you eat pasta sauce that contains an infectious organism, the lining of your stomach and intestines will develop an infection and inflammation, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Pasta sauce can acquire contamination during the manufacturing process or during preparation if it is handled with contaminated utensils or cookware. If you refrigerate and reheat the pasta sauce multiple times, you're at a greater risk of developing food poisoning.

According to StatPearls, the bacteria Bacillus cereus is common in sauces left out at room temperature for too long (and can also be present in grains like pasta). If you’ve left a sauce-slathered pasta dish to sit on the side for too long, it might put you at risk of Bacillus cereus contamination.

The organism contaminating the pasta sauce will determine the severity and duration of the symptoms. Most symptoms appear within a few hours of eating contaminated pasta sauce.

For example, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that Bacillus cereus often causes diarrheal symptoms 6 to 15 hours after eating, or vomiting symptoms 30 minutes to six hours after eating the affected sauce.

Along with diarrhea, the most common symptoms of gastroenteritis from food poisoning include the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Fever and chills
• Fatigue
• Appetite loss
• Stomach cramps
• Body aches

Call your doctor if you notice the following:

• Blood in your vomit or stool
• An inability to keep down fluids
• A fever lasting three or more days, or a body temperature over 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius)
• General symptoms lasting for five days or longer
• Severe belly pain
• Changes in mental status

Be Aware of Allergic Reactions or Food Intolerance Symptoms

An allergic reaction or intolerance to one or more ingredients in a pasta sauce can cause many gastrointestinal symptoms. Pasta sauces may contain milk or fish, which are common allergens for those who are sensitive. Tomatoes, a common feature in pasta sauce, can also trigger allergic-type symptoms.

If you're allergic or intolerant to an ingredient in the sauce, your immune system may react to it, sometimes triggering the production of immunoglobulin E antibodies.

These allergy-provoking agents trigger histamine production in your intestines, which can lead to digestive discomfort that may feel like gastroenteritis. You might also experience the following:

• A tingly or itchy mouth
• Hives
• Swelling of the face, tongue, throat, or other areas of the body
• Breathing problems
• A blocked nose
• Wheezing

Severe allergic reactions can potentially be life-threatening. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following severe symptoms alongside those typical of gastroenteritis, according to Cleveland Clinic:

• Swelling of the throat, tongue, or lips
• A tight throat or hoarse voice
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Low blood pressure
• An unusually fast heartbeat
• A feeling of doom
• Cardiac arrest

How to Treat Gastroenteritis

According to Cleveland Clinic, gastroenteritis usually passes quickly and doesn’t require treatment. The primary concern in managing it is maintaining proper hydration. Gastroenteritis can cause excessive vomiting and diarrhea, which can deplete the body of essential fluids.

Drink more clear liquids and eat bland, bulk-forming foods, such as white rice, bananas, white bread, plain yogurt, crackers, watermelon, popsicles, ice chips, and applesauce. If you notice the following symptoms of dehydration, call your doctor right away:

• A dry tongue and lips
• Dry skin
• Dizziness
• Decreased appetite with sugar cravings
• Flushed, red skin
• Dark urine
• Feeling lethargic
• Constipation
• Swollen feet
• Muscle cramps
• An intolerance for extreme temperatures
• A high heart rate with low blood pressure

Drinking sports drinks or hydration formulas may help prevent dehydration if you have gastroenteritis.