Foodborne Illness - with 'live foodborne illness' video clip

Incidence of Foodborne Illness, 2009

FoodNet Report on Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food, Changes in 2009 compared with 1996-1998.

The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) is the principal foodborne disease component of CDC's Emerging Infections Program (EIP).

Foodborne diseases monitored through FoodNet include infections caused by the bacteriaCampylobacter, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC),Listeria, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia, and the parasitesCryptosporidium and Cyclospora.

FoodNet conducts active surveillance for foodborne diseases and related epidemiologic studies designed to help public health officials better understand the epidemiology of foodborne diseases in the United States.

In comparison with the 1996–1998 period, rates of infection in 2009 were lower for Shigella (55% decrease), Yersinia (53% decrease), STEC O157 (41% decrease), Campylobacter (30% decrease), Listeria(26% decrease), and Salmonella (10% decrease); rates were higher for Vibrio (85% increase).

Consumers can reduce their risk for foodborne illness by following safe food-handling and preparation recommendations, and by avoiding consumption of raw or undercooked foods of animal origin such as eggs, ground beef, and poultry; unpasteurized milk; and raw or undercooked oysters.

Food preparers should follow the easy lessons of "Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill":

Clean - Wash hands, utensils, and cutting boards before and after contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs to avoid spreading bacteria when preparing food.

Separate - Use different cutting boards for meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables and keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs apart from foods that won’t be cooked.

Cook – Use a food thermometer - you can't tell if a food item is done by how it looks.

Chill - Keep your refrigerator at 40 degrees or below to keep bacteria from growing and chill leftovers and takeout foods within 2 hours.

Everyone should also wash hands after contact with animals and their environments.