{"id":211,"date":"2016-05-03T18:41:18","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T18:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/?page_id=211"},"modified":"2025-08-14T12:28:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T16:28:56","slug":"food-safety-basics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/food-safety-in-virginia\/food-safety-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Safety Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-211\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-211-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-211-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-211-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Foodborne illness is a common, costly\u2013yet preventable\u2013public health problem. Each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in six Americans get sick from contaminated foods or beverages. As many as 3,000 people die from foodborne illnesses each year. Although there are many different microbes that cause foodborne illnesses, the CDC has identified <strong>5 Risk Factors<\/strong> most commonly associated with foodborne illnesses. These risk factors apply to both commercial and home kitchens.<\/p>\n<p>The 5 Risk Factors are:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-211-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-accordion panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-accordion so-widget-sow-accordion-default-1126f3c25b78-211\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div>\n\t<div class=\"sow-accordion\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"food-from-an-unapproved-source\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-food-from-an-unapproved-source\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-food-from-an-unapproved-source\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFood from an Unapproved Source\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-food-from-an-unapproved-source\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-food-from-an-unapproved-source\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>An approved source is a facility that is inspected by the responsible regulatory agency and meets their standards. Most commonly, this refers to an agency such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for processed foods that aren\u2019t meat or poultry or the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for meat and poultry products. A food establishment is permitted to serve food to the consumer and cannot prepare and sell food to another food establishment. To further protect yourself when purchasing food, make sure the food is at the proper temperature when purchased, received or delivered, free of signs of pests (insects, rodent droppings, etc.), and that the packaging, if any, is intact.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"improper-cooking-temperatures\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-improper-cooking-temperatures\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-improper-cooking-temperatures\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImproper Cooking Temperatures\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-improper-cooking-temperatures\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-improper-cooking-temperatures\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cooking raw foods of animal origin (meat, poultry, eggs, fish, etc.) is one way to kill microorganisms that can be in the food that can make you sick. Microorganisms that can make you sick cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled. Some can survive freezing and cooking. Spoilage microorganisms, on the other hand, make the food look, smell, or taste unappealing.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/Danger-zone-temperature-graphic.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3290 size-medium alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/Danger-zone-temperature-graphic-194x300.jpg\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/Danger-zone-temperature-graphic-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/Danger-zone-temperature-graphic.jpg 406w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a>This chart shows some of the minimum internal cooking temperatures:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Poultry (including whole or ground chicken, duck, turkey, stuffing, etc.) \u2013 165\u00b0F for 15 seconds<\/li>\n<li>Ground meat (excluding poultry) \u2013 155\u00b0F for 15 seconds<\/li>\n<li>Pork, fish, lamb,or \u00a0eggs for immediate service \u2013 145\u00b0F for 15 seconds<\/li>\n<li>Beef Steak (mechanically tenderized)- 155\u00b0F for 15 seconds<\/li>\n<li>Beef Steak (whole muscle beef) \u2013 145\u00b0F on exterior<\/li>\n<li>Vegetables or fruits that are cooked &amp; held hot \u2013 135\u00b0F<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-217 size-thumbnail\" title=\"Food thermometer\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/tempTheo-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"tempTheo\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/tempTheo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/tempTheo.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A good\u00a0<strong>food thermometer<\/strong>\u00a0is a critical piece of equipment for any cook. A digital food thermometer, such as the one in this picture, is accurate and easy to read. You can find these types of thermometers at any restaurant or kitchen supply stores or at stores like Wal-Mart, Target and most grocery stores.<\/p>\n<p>Remember to clean your thermometer between uses and check the accuracy periodically.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"inadequate-holding-temperatures\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-inadequate-holding-temperatures\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-inadequate-holding-temperatures\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tInadequate Holding Temperatures\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-inadequate-holding-temperatures\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-inadequate-holding-temperatures\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-216\" title=\"Temperature chart\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/tempChart-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"tempChart\" width=\"179\" height=\"179\" \/>Bacteria that is found in food, that can make you sick, grow best at temperatures between 41\u00b0F and 135\u00b0F. When you keep cold food cold (at or below 41\u00b0F) and hot food hot (at 135\u00b0F or more) bacteria growth is slowed down. Ready-to-eat food will be safe to eat for up to 7 days after cooking or opening the commercially packaged food (unless dated otherwise by the processor). When you are preparing or serving food make sure to plan ahead so you can avoid letting the food remain in the\u00a0<strong>TEMPERATURE DANGER ZONE<\/strong>\u00a0(41\u00b0F-135\u00b0F) for more than a couple of hours. If food does sit out at room temperature for more than a couple of hours, discard all of the TCS food that remains.<\/p>\n<p>What is a\u00a0<strong>TCS (Time\/Temperature Control for Safety)\u00a0Food<\/strong>? Simply stated, it\u2019s a food that will support the growth of pathogens (bacteria that can make you sick) if held in the\u00a0<strong>temperature danger zone<\/strong>\u00a0for a period of time. Most people recognize foods like dairy products, meat and poultry, eggs, cooked fruits and vegetables, and seafood as TCS foods. It\u2019s important to realize that foods like cut melons, cut tomatoes, bean sprouts, garlic in oil mixtures, and any cooked plant material are also TCS foods. So once you cut that tomato or melon, remember to get any portion of it that you don\u2019t eat right away cooled down to 41\u00b0F or less as quickly as possible and no longer than 4 hours. Keep in mind that it is a lot harder to get foods cold than it is to heat them up! How long does it take you to make a cup of hot tea? How about an ice cube? When you want to cool leftovers from a meal, you can portion them into containers that are shallow and keep the lids off or loose until the food gets cold. Sometimes it makes sense to add ice or frozen vegetables to the food if you are going to make soup, too.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"employee-health-and-hygiene\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-employee-health-and-hygiene\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-employee-health-and-hygiene\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmployee Health and Hygiene\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-employee-health-and-hygiene\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-employee-health-and-hygiene\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>There are 3 main components to this risk factor:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The health of the food handler<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-215 size-full\" title=\"No sneezing icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/noSneezing.gif\" alt=\"noSneezing\" width=\"100\" height=\"105\" \/>A\u00a0<strong>sick food handler<\/strong>\u00a0can easily spread their illness to others that consume the food. If you have vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat with a fever, or jaundice you should not prepare food until you\u2019ve been symptom free for 24 hours. If you have an infected wound on your hands or exposed arms you need to bandage the wound and, if in a food establishment, wear disposable gloves. Food workers diagnosed with an illness caused by a BIG 6 pathogen:\u00a0<em>Salmonella<\/em>\u00a0Typhi, nontyphoidal\u00a0<em>Salmonella<\/em>, Shigellos, Shiga toxin-producing\u00a0<em>E. coli<\/em>(STEC), Norovirus, or Hepatitis A virus, must report the illness to the manager on duty. In most cases, the worker will be restricted from working until a health practitioner determines that it\u2019s safe for the worker\u00a0to return to work.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Good handwashing practices<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-214 size-full\" title=\"Wash hands\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/washHands.gif\" alt=\"washHands\" width=\"100\" height=\"105\" \/>Washing your hands with soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds removes bacteria that you may have picked up on your hands that could be transferred to food or food contact surfaces. Always wash your hands after using the restroom, changing diapers, handling raw foods of animal origin, eating, drinking or smoking, or performing any task that may have contaminated your hands before you return to food preparation activities.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>No bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food (food establishment requirement)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-213 size-full\" title=\"Gloved hands\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/05\/hands.jpg\" alt=\"hands\" width=\"119\" height=\"119\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As an added protection, food establishment food workers are required to avoid bare hand contact with food that is ready-to-eat. This can be done by using utensils, deli paper, gloves, etc. Single use gloves must be discarded after use and may not be reused.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"cross-contamination-contaminated-equipment-and-utensils\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-cross-contamination-contaminated-equipment-and-utensils\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-cross-contamination-contaminated-equipment-and-utensils\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCross contamination\/ Contaminated equipment and utensils\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-cross-contamination-contaminated-equipment-and-utensils\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-cross-contamination-contaminated-equipment-and-utensils\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are several ways that food can become contaminated in a food establishment. Cross-contamination is when ready-to-eat food comes in contact with a surface or utensil that has been used with raw food of animal origin and hasn\u2019t been cleaned an sanitized. The microorganisms from the raw animal food can get on the food that isn\u2019t going to be cooked before consumption and make whoever eats that food sick. Use care to separate raw animal foods from foods that are ready-to-eat.<\/p>\n<p>Dirty equipment and utensils can also transfer microorganisms to food and cause a foodborne illness. Wares must be clean to sight and touch. In a food establishment, wares must be washed in soapy water, rinsed in clear water, sanitized by heat or chemical means, then air dried before reuse and at specified intervals throughout the day, if in continuous use.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reminder:<\/strong>\u00a0If you suspect you are ill from something you ate, contact your local health department. The health department epidemiologist and environmental health specialist (inspector) will work together to learn about your illness and investigate the possible causes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Foodborne illness is a common, costly\u2013yet preventable\u2013public health problem. Each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in six Americans get sick from contaminated foods or beverages. As many as 3,000 people die from foodborne illnesses each year. Although there are many different microbes that cause foodborne illnesses, the CDC has identified [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":0,"parent":31,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-211","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Food Safety Basics - Environmental Health<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/food-safety-in-virginia\/food-safety-basics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Food Safety Basics - Environmental Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Foodborne illness is a common, costly\u2013yet preventable\u2013public health problem. Each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in six Americans get sick from contaminated foods or beverages. As many as 3,000 people die from foodborne illnesses each year. 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