Foodborne Illnesses
The NCDHHS Division of Public Health helps protect public health by investigating cases and outbreaks of food-related illness. Each year in the U.S., foodborne disease causes an estimated:
- 48 million illnesses
- 128,000 hospitalizations
- 3,000 deaths
- 1,000-plus outbreaks
You can take steps to help protect yourself and your loved ones from getting sick.
About Foodborne Illnesses
Foodborne illness occurs when food, water and other beverages become contaminated by germs or microscopic organisms such as:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Parasites
- Toxins
- Certain chemicals
Most of the food we eat goes through many steps before it reaches our tables. It can become contaminated at any step, from production to processing to distribution and preparation.
