Written By: N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe | Updated : April 20, 2026 5:45 PM IST
Medically Verified By: Dr. Amit Prakash Singh
Typical symptoms of food poisoning are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever and weakness.
Food poisoning or foodborne illness is a condition that is caused by ingesting contaminated food or beverages. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that millions of individuals are impacted annually with mild discomfort and severe dehydration being the most common symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic typical symptoms of food poisoning are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever and weakness which may be exacerbated by constrained conditions such as airplanes.
It is especially difficult to experience food poisoning during a flight as symptoms can be exacerbated by limited space, movement and dehydration caused by cabin pressure. One such incident occurred with TV personality Carrie Ann Inaba, judge of Dancing With The Stars. The news was announced to fans by her in an Instagram post that she was hospitalised after a medical emergency that suddenly occurred in mid-flight.
The 57-year-old star shared her experience with her followers and illuminated how a suspected food poisoning incident resulted in a trip that had become a health issue. Inaba posted on her social media that she started to feel extremely uncomfortable during the flight, feeling nauseous and experiencing stomach pain.
Cabin crew were reported to have helped her out as she became symptomatic which led to medical attention upon landing. Later she was admitted to the hospital to be monitored and treated. The symptoms did not identify the exact cause but as she did not deny that the symptoms showed a potential case of food poisoning, a common and painful disease that can come to us anytime even when travelling by air.
58-year-old Carrie Ann Inaba, judge of Dancing With The Stars.
According to Dr. Amit Prakash Singh, Consultant, Internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi these simple but effective tips can help you cope with the symptoms in case you get ill on a flight:
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it is necessary to seek emergency treatment in case of such symptoms as persistent vomiting, high fever, indications of dehydration and bloody diarrhoea. Although food poisoning can be avoided it may take place unintentionally. Experts often advise selecting freshly prepared meals, washing hands and staying hydrated during flights.
The content on TheHealthSite.com is only for informational purposes. It is not at all professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a healthcare specialist for any questions regarding your health or a medical condition.
Disclaimer: The content on TheHealthSite.com is only for informational purposes. It is not at all professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a healthcare specialist for any questions regarding your health or a medical condition.
