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 http://www.portlandmaine.gov/hhs/images/facts.jpg Myths and Misunderstandings
Common Foodborne Illnesses
Food Safety Facts Sheets
Videos and Other Media
Food Safety Home

Foodborne Illnesses and Food Safety Facts Sheets for the General Public

According to the U.S. CDC, foodborne illnesses cause 76 million illnesses each year in the U.S., 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths each year. In addition, some foodborne illnesses can cause long term effects, and they can also result in lost income or revenue for families and food establishments. Many of these illnesses, whether they occur in the home or in eating establishments can be prevented by practicing safe food handling practices.

The symptoms of foodborne illnesses are similar to the stomach flu, and usually present with diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and stomach pain. Because foodborne illnesses present like the stomach flu, many people do not go to their healthcare provider for testing or diagnosis, and so foodborne illnesses are under-reported. Foodborne illnesses are most dangerous for the very young, very old, and for people with weakened immune systems.

Common foodborne illness fact sheets:

· Botulism
· Campylobacter
· Clostridium Perfringens
· Cryptosporidiosis
· E coli O157-H7
· Hepatitis A
· Norovirus
· Salmonella
· Shigella
· Typhoid Fever
· Vibriosis
· Yersenia

Food safety fact sheets:

· Baking pies
· Bleach and water, recipe for basic sanitizing solution
· Buffet dining
· Cooking eggs
· Cooking turkey
· E. coli facts for home juice makers
· First aid for choking on food
· Food safety in your home kitchen
· Fresh juice bars
· When to use gloves in a food facility
· Labeling raw and undercooked foods
· Melons and food borne illness
· Pasteurized juice safety
· Power failure and how to protect foods
· Quick tips for food safety
· Safe wild mushrooms
· Summer food safety tips

Food safety videos and other media:

          · Food safety videos and podcasts from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.  These videos and podcasts cover a range of food safety topics geared for a variety of audiences in multiple languages.

          · Food safety training videos from the Food and Drug Administration.  These videos are geared for employers looking for training videos for their employees.