6 surprising foods that can make you sick
Learn about some common sources of food-borne illnesses.
Jan, 2026
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Slide 1
Though government regulators work hard to keep our food supply safe, foodborne illnesses are common and widespread, affecting everything from farm-grown vegetables to peanut butter. Find out which items often cause foodborne illness—and importantly, how to avoid getting sick.
Written byTaylor Lupo.
Medically reviewed byJoanne Perron, MD.
Sources: Center for Science in the Public Interest. The Ten Riskiest Foods Regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed November 30 + 13
- Center for Science in the Public Interest. The Ten Riskiest Foods Regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed November 30, 2022.
- Colorado State University Food Source Information. Potatoes. Last updated February 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella. Last reviewed November 16, 2022.
- FoodSafety.gov. Food Safety by Type of Food. Last reviewed April 1, 2019.
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. People at Risk of Foodborne Illness. Current as of September 4, 2020.
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Foodborne Illness and Disease. Last updated October 21, 2020.
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen Seafood Safely. Current as of November 15, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Peanut Butter. Posted July 27, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Peanut Butter, 2008-2009 (FINAL UPDATE). Posted May 11, 2009.
- Sithole TR, Ma YX, et al. Peanut Butter Food Safety Concerns-Prevalence, Mitigation and Control of Salmonella spp., and Aflatoxins in Peanut Butter. Foods. 2022 Jun 24;11(13):1874.
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. What You Need to Know About Egg Safety. Content current as of May 10, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. E. coli (Escherichia coli): Outbreak of E. coli Infections Linked to Leafy Greens. Page last reviewed December 22, 2020.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Foodborne Outbreaks: List of Multistate Foodborne Outbreak Notices. Last reviewed November 17, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Listeria (Listeriosis). Listeria Outbreak Linked to Packaged Salads Produced by Fresh Express. Posted March 8, 2022.
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