What is the difference between a bacterial food borne illness and a viral one?

Apples/oranges: Bacterial food borne illness often from undercooked, and/or contaminated food. Any uncooked animal product considered contaminated. Any raw, unwashed fruit/veg may be contaminated, so wash them before eating. Wash your hands before cooking, eating. Viral food borne illness includes hepatitis a, found in contaminated sea food, more commonly from food handlers. Other viral inf can cause GI sx.

See details: One is caused by bacteria and one is caused by a virus. These are two totally different types of organisms.

Different organisms: In cases such as traveler's diarrhea caused by E coli sometimes a single dose of antibiotic would dramatically shorten the duration of the illness although most cases do not require an antibiotic. In viral infection, we can only treat the symptoms.