The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases. Only a small percentage of those are related to a foodborne disease outbreak, which is defined as two or more illnesses caused by the same germ (e.g., a toxin, virus or bacteria) which are linked to eating the same food.
Learn more about foodborne diseases and outbreaks:
Foodborne Diseases (VDH)
Foodborne Disease FAQ (VDH)
Foodborne Disease Outbreaks (VDH)
Bad Bug Book (FDA)
What You Need to Know about Foodborne Illnesses (FDA)
Foodborne Illness: What Consumers Need to Know (USDA)
Could I Have Food Poisoning? (Partnership for Food Safety Education)
Foodborne Outbreaks (CDC)
People at Risk of Food Poisoning (FoodSafety.gov)
How to Report Foodborne Illness
- My Meal Detective: How To Report Foodborne Illness
- Reporting Foodborne Illness (FDA)
- How to Report a Problem with Food
Healthcare Professionals: