Q: I made cookie dough, then realized the butter had probably been in my fridge for a year. Is the butter and cookie dough safe for consumption? The butter doesn't smell bad, as far as I can tell.
Food poisoning is a common cause of illness and is often mistaken for the 24-hour flu. It has many causes with symptoms lasting for a day or a week or more. Here's a primer on food poisoning and how to avoid it.