Foodborne Illness Summary Each year, 48 million people in the U.S. get sick from contaminated food. Common culprits include bacteria, parasites and viruses. Symptoms range from mild to serious. They include Upset stomach Abdominal cramps Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea Fever Dehydration Harmful bacteria are the most common cause of foodborne illness. Foods may have some bacteria on them when you buy them. Raw meat may become contaminated during slaughter. Fruits and vegetables may become contaminated when they are growing or when they are processed. But it can also happen in your kitchen if you leave food out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. Handling food safely can help prevent foodborne illnesses. The treatment in most cases is increasing your fluid intake. For more serious illness, you may need treatment at a hospital. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Encyclopedia Amebiasis Fecal culture Food poisoning prevention Stool Gram stain Children Amebiasis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Cronobacter Illness and Infant Formula Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Food Poisoning Nemours Foundation Shigella Infections Nemours Foundation Yersiniosis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Specifics Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning National Office for Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algal Blooms CDC Vital Signs: Preventing Norovirus Outbreaks Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Vital Signs: Recipe for Food Safety Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Ciguatera Fish Poisoning National Office for Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algal Blooms Norovirus Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Parasites and Foodborne Illness Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service Shigellosis National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Trichinellosis (also known as Trichinosis) FAQs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vibrio parahaemolyticus Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vibrio vulnificus Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Start Here Be Food Safe: Protect Yourself from Food Poisoning Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Food Poisoning Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Foodborne Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Disease, (Sometimes Called “Food Poisoning”) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foodborne Illnesses National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Statistics and Research CDC 2011 Estimates of Foodborne Illness in the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Vital Signs: Making Food Safer to Eat Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Prevention and Risk Factors CDC Vital Signs: Safer Food Saves Lives Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MedlinePlus: Food Safety National Library of Medicine Find an Expert Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Campylobacter Infections National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Foodborne Diseases National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Yersinia Infections National Institutes of Health Videos and Tutorials Enviromysteries: Inside Stories: Frankie’s Story Array Games Food Detectives: Fight Bac Partnership for Food Safety Education Array Food poisoning Foodborne Illnesses: What You Need to Know Food and Drug Administration Gastritis Poisoning – fish and shellfish Shigellosis Women Foods to Avoid or Limit during Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Teenagers Gastrointestinal Infections and Diarrhea Nemours Foundation Shigellosis Nemours Foundation Related Issues How to Report a Foodborne Illness Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Long Term Effects of Food Poisoning Department of Health and Human Services Images Least Wanted Foodborne Pathogens Partnership for Food Safety Education Diagnosis and Tests O&P (Ova and Parasite) Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Stool Culture American Association for Clinical Chemistry Stool Tests Nemours Foundation Journal Articles Foodborne Illness Latest News New Labeling Offers More Protection for Meat Lovers HealthDay