Did you get food poisoning?

Can you get food poisoning from eating food from a warming plate/oven such as from a convience store?

• I had an argument with a co-worker of mine about the ability of someone to get food poisoning from food that has been cooked and then left on a warming plate for customers to buy, such as a convenience store. Is it possible to get food poisoning this way?

• Answer:

  Yes, you can. Actually, the longer the food sits the more likely bacteria is to develop. And with the temperature inside the holding container constantly changing because of people opening and closing the lid or door, it just makes it doubly as likely that you can get food poisoning. All ready to eat foods should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees and held at an internal temperature above 60 degrees. Plus, if they use a serving utensil that has been permitted to cool to room temperature it has become ripe with bacteria. Not to mention, you don't know who the heck else has been touching that food.