Which of the following is NOT a common symptom of bacterial food poisoning?

In the context of bacterial food poisoning, the common symptoms typically include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Each of these symptoms arises from the body's response to the bacteria or the toxins they produce in contaminated food.

Diarrhea and fever are classic indicators of bacterial foodborne illnesses, as they are part of the body's natural reaction to try and expel the harmful pathogens. A headache can also occur as a secondary symptom related to dehydration or as a response to the overall stress the body experiences during an illness.

However, a dry cough is not associated with bacterial food poisoning. This symptom is more commonly linked to respiratory infections or conditions such as allergies or asthma. It does not appear in the symptomatology of foodborne illness, which is primarily characterized by disturbances in the digestive system. Therefore, identifying a dry cough in this context highlights its lack of relevance to the typical signs of bacterial food poisoning.