The Dangers of Eating
What are Foodborne Infections?

Foodborne infections are illnesses that result from consuming food that has been improperly prepared or stored. Deadly or at least harmful bacterias can be found on many foods, and when the food is stored or prepared in such a way that said bacteria is allowed to fester and remain, it poses a great threat to the consumer. "About 25 percent of the U.S. population is especially vulnerable to foodborne pathogens because of impaired immune systems." (Fox(1) 14) Indeed, "foodborne illness spares no one." (Fox(1) 15) Even people in the prime of their life can be struck ill for weeks after eating contaminated food.

When these foodborne illnesses are capable of causing so much damage, it seems strange that you do not read or hear more of these incidents in the news. But tracing back towards 1992, there is one foodborne illness outbreak of nationwide proportions, the Jack-in-the-Box outbreak. However, "most probably think of it as an anomaly, a freak accident in an age of unprecented food safety when the combined forces of government regulation, technological innovation... and industrial accountability guarantee that what we eat will not harm us." (Fox(1) 10) It is precisely this optimistic outlook which puts many people in greater danger of picking up foodborne illnesses.

Next: What causes foodborne illnesses?