Contaminated foods and beverages sicken an estimated 48 million Americans each year. The five bugs most likely to cause an outbreak: Norovirus, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, and Campylobacter. Together, they accounted for roughly 9 out of 10 illnesses from outbreaks from 2011 to 2015. (Listeria monocytogenes isn’t in the top five, but it kills more people than most of the others.) Here’s what you need to know about them—especially if you’re pregnant, under age 5, or 65 or older, or you have a weakened immune system. Want to know more? See Dec. 2017, "Safe at the plate: how to keep your food free of harmful bugs."

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

Norovirus

TYPICALLY FOUND IN: Fruits, vegetables, shellfish, any food an infected person touches.

LOWER YOUR RISK: Rinse fruits and vegetables. Avoid raw oysters and other shellfish. Wash hands with soap and water. (Don’t rely on hand sanitizer.)

Clostridium perfringens

TYPICALLY FOUND IN: Cooked meat and poultry—think big roasts or stews—kept warm or at room temperature for hours.

LOWER YOUR RISK: Serve meat and poultry hot. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours. (Divide large amounts into shallow containers for quick cooling.)

Campylobacter

TYPICALLY FOUND IN: Raw milk, raw or undercooked poultry.

LOWER YOUR RISK: Don’t wash raw poultry. (That can spread Campylobacter to foods, utensils, and kitchen surfaces.) Use a separate cutting board for poultry, and clean it well. Cook poultry to 165°F.

Salmonella

TYPICALLY FOUND IN: Almost any food: beef, pork, poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts, sprouts, and more.

LOWER YOUR RISK: Cook poultry, meat, and eggs thoroughly (or use pasteurized eggs). Rinse fruits and vegetables (but not packaged pre-washed greens).

E. coli (Shiga toxin-producing)

TYPICALLY FOUND IN: Beef (especially ground), unpasteurized milk and juice, raw fruits and vegetables (like sprouts).

LOWER YOUR RISK: Use a food thermometer to cook ground beef to 160°F. Avoid unpasteurized juices (like fresh apple cider). Don’t eat raw sprouts.

Listeria

TYPICALLY FOUND IN: Raw milk, soft cheeses, raw sprouts, melon.

LOWER YOUR RISK: Avoid raw milk and raw sprouts. Look for pasteurized milk in the ingredients list of soft cheeses like brie and camembert. Refrigerate cut melon for no more than a week.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Outbreak Reporting System and Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks United States Annual Reports (2011-2015), Food and Drug Administration.

FOR MORE INFO: cdc.gov/foodsafety

Photos: stock.adobe.com (top to bottom): Minerva Studio, Gresei, Vit Kovalcik, nblxer, Sergey Ryzhov, George Dolgikh.