OK, so I went by McDonald's today, and now I'm paying for it.

[glowing]

On Sunday, I work a 1st shift, go home for 8hrs, and then come back to work the 3rd shift (all so I can get "2 days" off while maintaining a 56hr work week--yeah, welcome to hell in America, ain't it grand--but there are other people in this world who are slaves, so I guess its better than some--perspective). I was running late, and hadn't eaten anything all day, so on my way back to work around 10:45pm, I stopped and got a "chicken" sandwich. AND I'm paying for it now, I'm nearly doubled over in pain.

Let me preface this story with this factor: Because of our crap economy, I put in a garden this year, we stopped eating anything out, and we buy just what we need (as far as any veggies or meat) when we are ready to eat. I have a great veggie and herb garden started. We live next to a little meat market that has a great selection of meats and fish.. the quality is better and not pre-packaged, so we don't have to waste or freeze extra, and I round out what veggies or sides we need at various places like farmer's markets and natural store and grocery store. My husband and I work a lot of opposite shifts, so on an avg week, I have two "meat" nights. I have my step-son one other night (just the two of us), and on those nights we have pasta, soup (homemade), or breakfast (eggs, pancakes, and/ or sausage/ bacon).. but mostly pasta (of which I get whole wheat pasta and make my own sauce). We all round out our other meals and crazy schedules with cereal (organic milk), sandwiches (have to start making my own bread), and leftovers. All of this has lead to two things; 1) healthier lifestyle, and 2) money savings for our family.

So, I was running late, hadn't eaten all day, and stopped by the McDonald's for a chicken sandwich. I don't think that the chicken was "bad" in terms of getting food poisoning, but it was bad because, by default of our economic crisis in America making us find ways to save, our family has become healthy eaters. Subsequently, people who eat healthy for a lengthy time, will feel ill when they eat sub-food. It is now that I can say with definitive exclamation, McDonald's is crap. My stomach is crampy, I have a subtle headache, and my body is saying please get rid of this toxic food.

Its time to realize that our health or lack of health in America is very proportional to the lack of nutritious food options, and our Govts wonton lack of regulating food over the corporations profits has got to change.

I will be sure to make something with some Cilantro in it today.. to detoxify quicker. AND always remember, no matter how hungry, and empty belly is better than that rancorous stuff they pass as food... what a waste of money and my health.

[tsuki]

1. I have an emergency pack in the Freezer for just such occasions. nt

[geiger]

2. I stopped eating anything at McDonalds years ago. I don't understand how people

can stand it, for one thing, but it ISN'T healthy, and people know it and they eat it anyway. Or, maybe they don't know it, I don't know. I can't eat as healthy as you, but I do everything I can not to put garbage in my system.

Sorry you have to work so many hours; work can be toxic, too.

So is politics. How DO we make it?

[Orrex]

3. What makes you so sure that it isn't food poisoning?

It's distressing to think that a side-effect of "health" is a reduced ability to consume processed food.

I hope that you feel better soon!

[glowing]

4. Have you seen the documentary where the man ate only McDonald's for one month..

By the end of the month, his doctor's were begging him to stop for the sake of his health..

On edit: once in a while, I didn't think much of it.. I've just been eating "healthier" by proxy because its required by our home budget.. After not eating at a fast food place for this long, it did have un-natural side effects that a fried 1/2 peice of meat would on any body.

[Orrex]

7. Well, yeah, but

Eating three meals a day for a month is a far cry from eating one sandwich, wouldn't you agree?

If you show that strong a reaction after just a single meal, either something is seriously wrong with your digestive system, or something is seriously wrong with the meal. A McDonald's sandwich, though not a healthfood ideal, isn't toxic, either; if it hit you that hard and that fast, something else is at work.

If you're still experiencing problems, get yourself checked out.

[HamdenRice]

20. If you watch the film, he gets sick after his first meal

It's a serious topic, but the film is actually totally f***ing hilarious. He's sitting in his car starting his "experiment" and he eats something like a big mac, fries, shake, etc.-- one normal McD's meal.

Then the film jumps ahead about 15 minutes and Spurlock says something like "uh-oh." He calls the food in his stomac a "MacBrick," then opens the car door, leans out a projectile vomits. I know we shouldn't laugh at someone getting sick, but the first time we watched this at my house we were just hysterically laughing about the first meal.

Toward the end of the month his liver enzymes were so bad that his doctor demanded that he stop eating at McD's.

On edit: According to Wiki, the meal that got him sick was consumed on his second day, was his first supersized meal and was a quarter pounder with cheese, not a Big Mac.

[Orrex]

21. I've seen the film

I'm willing to defer to Wiki, but I thought that he ordered a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, a humongous fry, and a bigass vat of soda (or maybe a milkshake). Christ! I eat at McD's two or three times a month, and the huge meal that he ordered would likely put me over the edge.

Spurlock's reaction to one meal doesn't speak to what we're describing in this thread; it refers to an immediate response to a single meal rather than to a lingering illness resulting from one sandwich.


Supersize Me is a great film, and I'll say nothing against it, except that it's not relevant here.

[HamdenRice]

22. The question is: Can one McD's meal get you sick

I eat at McD's maybe once a year at most, and every time since I decided to stop eating junk food, it has the same effect: a really bad stomach ache. My S.O. has the same reaction.

You seem not to believe that once you are no longer accustomed to that stuff, it will get you sick without there being bacterial contamination. People with first hand experience are trying to tell you: yes, it will get you sick without bacterial contamination if you are not used to it.

I used to regularly host friends from overseas where, because of sanctions, there were no McDs. It was one of the first things they wanted to try here, and several of them reported getting sick on their first try eating it.

[lib2DaBone]

5. McDonald's has gotten worse...

..if that's possible. Are McDonald's hamburger patties pre-cooked and then frozen? I noticed those new machines they use to cook the patties. They look like "Warmers". Led me to think that the meat now comes pre-cooked and frozen and all they do is thaw them out in the warmers and slap them on a bun. Back in the old days, (the 80's) they actually fried the meat on a grill. I would like to see the results if someone did an analysis/composition of McBurger meat. I bet its Kangaroo and horse meat with sawdust and rat turds added for filler.

[Mrs. Overall]

6. Don't dismiss food poisoning. Last year my brother ended up in the emergency room after

eating a McD's chicken sandwich. They weren't sure if the meat was bad or if it was the lettuce or mayo; the doc said that all three of those had the potential to have caused the illness.

[Tumbulu]

8. I eat mostly organic food

and have been doing this for over 15 years now. On the rare occasion that I eat something conventional I get sick from it. Headaches, jittery nerves, crampy stomach. It is just not worth it as I am out of whack for a day or two.

My theory is that I have a hyper sensitive system. Other folks go on eating all sorts of conventional food without problems. But me, I just can't. Which is why I sought organic farming and food in the first place. I'm the canary in the mine. And perhaps you are too.

[glowing]

9. I think when you start cleaning up your body, and its used to better

nurition and you hand it trash.. its going to whack out.. OK, now.. doing much better...

[Orrex]

10. So...

You're saying that people who eat "junk" food are at an advantage in today's society?

[glowing]

11. No, because junk food will lead to obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol levels,

and diabetes.. also, injesting so many chemicals and dyes may help lead to cancer... I think once you don't eat as much junk food, and then go back, you can feel the difference faster.

[cosmik debris]

12. There is a moderately good possibility

That you were infected by either Campylobacter, Salmonella, Lysteria, or E. Coli. All of these are common problems for poultry packers.

IF that is the case, your misdiagnosis will not change your recovery pattern. Most healthy people recover from these infections within 24 to 48 hours.

But here is the problem. IF you had one of those infections and didn't report it, the meat packer and the restaurant will never know that they are serving unsafe products. They will continue to serve those products until somebody who is not healthy buys some, then they will have a fatality law suit to settle.

(I base my statements only on my experience, many years ago, as a QC supervisor in a poultry packing plant. I am not a medical professional or a public health expert.)

[Orrex]

13. That reply is so good...

That it completely derailed my intent to ask if, as a poultry plant QC supervisor, you ever had to choke a chicken.

[cosmik debris]

16. No, but I fondled a lot of

Breasts and thighs!

[Tumbulu]

15. Do you know how one is supposed to report such a thing?

Can you walk us through what we should do?

For instance, must one go to a doctor to be tested and actually diagnosed with an infection? Or does one call their county department of public health, or report something online....

You make a good point and I would like to know what is the recommended reporting protocol.

Thanks

[cosmik debris]

17. Two options

One is to see a physician and ask for the appropriate tests (usually a stool sample is required).

The other would be to call your local health dept and tell them that you suspect food poisoning and ask them for advice.

But as I said, I am not a public health expert. My major responsibility in this regard was to supervise the high school drop outs and undocumented immigrants that you trust to keep your food safe. I only lasted a couple of years. And 6 months after I left, the USDA shut down the plant because of a Lysteria outbreak in New Your City. This was about 25 years ago.

[Tumbulu]

19. Thanks!

[Avalon Sparks]

14. I think that is possible...

I cut out almost all sugar over the last year and 1/2. Even from fruits and from grains... the so called good carbs.

Now if I do eat something with sugar - especially sweets - I get real sick to my stomach.

[Orrex]

18. Did it have tomatoes on it?

:shrug:

[conscious evolution]

23. Same thing happens with me

I have been eating organic and/or locally grown and raised food for the last year now.I have noticed that anytime I eat heavily processed factory food I feel like crap afterwards.