If eating outside at a horse ranch, can one get sick from the flies landing on the food?

Question

In Arizona

Answer 1

You won't die, but you might get sick. Eat when you get home. That is just gross.

Answer 2

Short answer ... yes.

Longer answer .. yes because the flies can land on the horse dung and carry bacteria from it as well as particles of the dung back to your food. The part you don't want to know is that it will probably matter little because every time you smell horse dung what is happening is that small airborne particles of the dung (along with the bacteria) are entering your nose and being detected by your scent detectors. Be it flies or the wind, if you live around dung you get dung into your system. Either can cause sickness but it is rare and not something to really worry about.

Answer 3

You certainly can get sick from flies landing on your food. They carry all sorts of diseases and things, and because this is at a horse ranch, your chances of getting sick are increased dramatically. Keep in mind though that even when you go on a picnic somewhere, or eat outside for that matter, you are exposing yourself to flies and other bugs. Since you're at a horse ranch, your chances of that happening are increased.

Answer 4

yes you could get sick, but it's unlikely. Most trouble gastrointestinally is caused from bactieria, and though a fly may carry some, it would need to fester into an amount that would be enough to attack your body. so I'd be much more worried about what you're eating rather than what's landed on it. You know the 5 second rule right? I'm not saying a fly can't make you sick, but just that it's not as likely to as if you ate something funny.

Answer 5

You can get sick from flies anywhere...not just a horse ranch in Arizona...

Answer 6

Of course.

The flies carry opportunistic bacteria.

However, GENERALLY no. Why? Well, when you eat something
you digest it in your stomac which contains acid which kills most
forms of life that end in it.

Humans are pretty hardy critters. They eat a LOT of things
that have live bacteria on them and suffer no ill effects. Indeed,
there are studies out now indicating that if we keep our kids
away from allergens, they will be MORE allergic in adulthood.

That is to say: We should NOT try to keep the world sterile.

I wouldn't recommend eating flies and maggots without
cooking them ... but you probably could with no ill effects
other than what's going through your mind when you are
doing it.

Answer 7

I doubt it. maybe if they lay eggs, but you can see the eggs (well maybe not if is in your rice).
Mushrooms are grown in horses dung have you gotten sick?
Most animals consume some amount of fetal matter. Digestive juices kill most stuff. Are you worried about bacteria? Flies clean themselves better than cats, Flys are small, 10 or 20 bacterium might bite off a leg. :) (kiss you cat?) Cats and dogs lick their anuses. You ever got sick from being licked by your cat or dog? Horse dung is mostly hay and grasses and used a lot in compost. Compost = Good Stuff. Stop worrying, enjoy life.

Answer 8

Of course u can get sick, those flies are the same flies that go on the manure and waste chemicals that they use.

Answer 9

Y don't u just coat your food with bacteria ? Flies carry germs bottom line

Answer 10

why on earth would you let flies land on your food regardless of if it is at a horse ranch or not? shoo fly don't bother me. that's my motto! No nothing is a motto with me. what's a motto with you? LOL

Answer 11

Flies are germ carriers...there is horse puck everywhere...
2+2= for sure!