You may know someone who had "food poisoning" after eating at a picnic or out at a restaurant. Foodborne illnesses can also take place in the home. A foodborne illness occurs when a person eats a food that contains harmful amounts of a bacteria, virus, or parasite. Most of these organisms, also called pathogens, cannot be seen, smelled, or even tasted. These are some common foodborne pathogens:
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Shigella
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E. coli O157:H7
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Campylobacter
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People can also get sick when chemicals such as lead and pesticides get into food.