Do people really die from foodborne illness?
Yes, they do. Although people correctly associate foodborne illness with flu-like gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, these are only some of the symptoms caused by foodborne pathogens. Some pathogens invade deeper tissues or produce toxins that are absorbed and cause systemic symptoms, including fever, headache, kidney failure, anemia, and death. Other pathogens are linked to chronic illnesses, including certain kinds of cancer.
