Foodborne Illness
Questions and Answers about Foodborne Illness (sometimes called “Food Poisoning”)
General questions
- What is foodborne illness (disease, infection)?
- What are the most common foodborne diseases?
- How many cases of foodborne disease are there in the United States?
- Are the types of foodborne diseases changing?
- What are some critical unsolved problems in foodborne disease?
Outbreaks and surveillance (tracking)
- How do public health departments track foodborne diseases?
- What is a foodborne disease outbreak and why do they occur?
- Why do public health officials investigate outbreaks?
- How are outbreaks of foodborne disease detected?
- How is a foodborne disease outbreak investigated?
- What foods are most associated with foodborne illness?
Food safety
- How does food become contaminated?
- There is only so much the consumer can do. How can food be made safer in the first place?
- What is CDC doing to control and prevent foodborne disease?
Diagnosing and treating foodborne illness
- What happens in the body after the microbes that produce illness are swallowed?
- How are foodborne diseases diagnosed?
- How are foodborne diseases treated?
- When should I consult my doctor about a diarrheal illness?
Protecting yourself from foodborne illness
- What can consumers do to protect themselves from foodborne illness?
- Are some people more likely to contract a foodborne illness? If so, are there special precautions they should take?
- What can consumers do when they eat in restaurants?
- Where can I learn more about food safety and foodborne diseases?
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- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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