DefinitionStaph aureus food poisoning is an illness that results from eating food contaminated with a toxin produced by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.Causes, incidence, and risk factorsStaphylococcus aureus food poisoning is often caused when a food handler contaminates food products that are served or stored at room- or refrigerator temperature. Common examples of such foods are desserts (especially custards and cream-filled or topped desserts), salads (especially those containing mayonnaise, such as tuna salad, potato salad, and macaroni salad), poultry and other egg products, and casseroles.The bacteria produce a toxin in the food, which causes most of the symptoms. Risk factors include:Eating food that was prepared by a person with a skin infection (these infections commonly conta