What are Some Common Foodborne Illnesses?
There are a number of common foodborne illnesses, mostly caused by bacteria and resulting most frequently from unsafe food handling and preparation. The most commonly recognized forms of foodborne illnesses are caused by bacteria. Though the CDC recognizes over 250 identified foodborne illnesses, the most common sources are bacterial and include Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E.coli. Campylobacter is a bacterial pathogen that causes campylobacteriosis, or more commonly, a form of food poisoning. The bacteria are found in the intestines of healthy birds and while they do not affect the birds, the bacteria do affect humans. Most raw poultry contains Campylobacter but proper cooking of the meat kills the bacteria. The most common source of campylobacteriosis is contamination from the drippings of raw poultry or eating the meat undercooked.
