It's relatively easy to find out, says Jay Solnick, MD, professor of medicine and an infectious disease specialist at the University of California Davis School of Medicine. If you start to feel queasy and nauseous before you're finished eating, it's a very good indication that  the food has gone bad.

While the symptoms may vary in severity – with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, doctors say that most food poisoning cases rarely require medical treatment. Physicians say that special care most be taken for infants and the elderly, along with those with heart conditions to avoid dehydration. Most recommend consuming clear liquids and light broth until the illness passes.

Doctors also say that those with severe symptoms, such as vomiting over a period of several days or blood in bowel movements should seek immediate attention – but say that in most cases, symptoms clear up within a matter of days.

In rare instances, a dietary intolerance in patients for dairy or certain meat products can be misdiagnosed as food poisoning.

While rarely fatal or debilitating, officials say that food poisoning remains a public safety concern. They warn that if large numbers of people suddenly take ill after eating at a particular restaurant or a barbecue, that public health departments should be notified.