It seems as if there’s another food recall every day. While this frequency alone is almost enough to make you sick, we should be glad that producers can successfully identify and intercept contaminated food quickly. What are the most common causes of these recalls? In this guide to the most dangerous common foodborne illnesses, we’ll identify the pathogens that send our food away before it can send us to the hospital.
Escherichia coli Infection
As the commercials for certain dietary supplements remind you, our digestive systems are full of bacterial colonies that aid in breaking down our food. Indeed, E. coli often lives in our intestines without incident, making up part of our personal ecosystem of gut flora. Some strains of E. coli, however, produce a dangerous toxin that damages our intestinal lining and causes severe distress. These are the strains that lead to recalls, most often of fresh produce. Unsanitary handling processes often lead to this contamination.
Salmonellosis
Salmonella enterica and Salmonella bongori, two closely related species, cause bacterial infections that most often arise from the contamination of a variety of food products. We usually associate Salmonella poisoning with tainted animal products, such as meat, dairy, eggs, and poultry. If your parents told you never to eat raw cookie dough, it was out of a fear of Salmonella bacteria in raw eggs. However, even people on plant-based diets must watch out for these bacteria as well. A recent recall of salad greens cited potential Salmonella contamination as the reason to take precautions and dispose of the product.
Staph Infections
Staphylococcus aureus is a common adversary of the human body’s immune system. Strains of staph bacteria can cause sinus infections, bone and joint abscesses, and even meningitis. They can also cause cases of food poisoning, in which toxins the bacteria produce lead to painful stomach cramps and diarrhea. Staphylococcus aureus is particularly pernicious among the most dangerous common foodborne illnesses because the bacteria and their toxic byproducts are odorless, giving no apparent indications of contamination.
Hepatitis A
While most common foodborne illnesses stem from bacteria, the hepatitis A virus can also taint our food, leading to severe liver disease. The Mexican restaurant chain Chi-Chi’s was a casualty of a rampant outbreak of hepatitis A contamination, which caused a public relations disaster from which they couldn’t recover. Frozen produce has also been a vector of hepatitis A, with a 1997 case of frozen strawberries imported from Mexico still lingering in the public memory.
