Foodborne Illness - Causes, Symptoms and Prevention | STOP

organic homemade vegetables harvest carrots and beets

SUPPORT

AND ENGAGE PEOPLE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY FOODBORNE ILLNESS

Senior woman eating an ice-cream

MOBILIZE

THEM TO HELP PREVENT ILLNESS AND DEATH

Obese male savoring grilled meat in pub

DRIVING CHANGE

THROUGH ADVOCACY, COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION

Happy celebrating winning success woman

Stop Foodborne Illness

Building for the future, expanding our legacy of public service and inclusive collaboration to make food as safe as possible for everyone.

Learn More

What am I supporting when I donate to Stop Foodborne Illness?

Since 1994, we have focused our efforts on telling the WHY of food safety by sharing the stories of our constituent-advocates. Their dedication to presenting a truthful representation of the illness and outcomes associated with eating foods contaminated by pathogens is at the heart of STOP’s work.

Investing in the work of Stop Foodborne Illness

How do you know when foods are contaminated?

Get Food Recall Alerts Sent to Your Inbox

Consuming contaminated food can lead to serious illness and, sometimes, death. Food poisoning (or foodborne illness) may also cause long-term consequences which greatly impact one’s quality of life.

Food Recall Alerts

Did you know this award-winning toolkit is designed to strengthen food safety culture?

This set of tools is free and available to anyone who wants access.

Contributing time, insight and resources, Alliance partners across the food industry create tools which are:
● Informed by the most current science
● Based on years of personal experience
● Tailored to be most useful for small- and medium-sized companies

Food Safety Culture Toolkit

I have nausea and bloody diarrhea. Should I go to the ER?

Yes.

Here are 10 things to do if you think you have food poisoning ...

Do I have food poisoning?

Stop Foodborne Illness is a national nonprofit, public health organization dedicated to the prevention of illness and death from foodborne pathogens.

Stories Behind the Statistics

Consitutent Services

Food Safety Policy

Our history is filled with examples of individuals and families who have come together and, as a good friend says, “transformed isolated losses into something bigger than individual tragedy.” We know that you consider the mission of Stop Foodborne Illness worthwhile and that, together with us, you’ll advance the cause of food safety.

TAKE ACTION

DONATE →

Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness

A consumer-industry initiative to influence human behaviors and improve internal food safety culture. For more information contact Alliance Director, Vanessa Coffman:
vcoffman@stopfoodborneillness.org

Cucumbers in bushel boxes (US/McAllen, Alamo areas Texas)

June 17, 2025

Food Recall Alert for June 17, 2025 Recall Information Product: Fuentes Far...

Pistachio Cream (US/Nationwide)

June 16, 2025

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Pistachio Cream Outbreak Investigatio...

Enoki Mushrooms (US/Nationwide)

June 12, 2025

Food Recall Alert for June 12, 2025 Recall Information Product: Enoki Mushr...

Coldwater Shrimp Meat (US/CA, OR, WA & Canada/BC), Salted Smoked Split...

June 11, 2025

Food Recall Alert for June 11, 2025 Recall Information Product: Bornstein S...

Multiple brand names of brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs (U...

June 9, 2025

Food Recall Alert for June 9, 2025 Recall Information Product: Brown cage f...

Recalled: Fresh Cucumbers and Salads and Salsas (US/MD, NC, NJ, PA, VA) and...

June 6, 2025

Food Recall Alert for June 6, 2025 Recall Information Product: Fresh cucumb...

What was a joyful anniversary dinner turned into a

What was a joyful anniversary dinner turned into a lifelong struggle for Dona.

On New Year’s Eve 1994, Dona and her husband celebrated with fried oysters at a seafood restaurant in Austin, TX. Hours later, she was hemorrhaging and in shock, the beginning of a devastating journey caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a foodborne pathogen linked to raw and undercooked seafood.

Though she survived, the impact of that meal still haunts her: chronic illness, panic attacks, a cancer diagnosis, and more. “It’s like that food poison woke up every single thing in my body that could go wrong and made it go off all at once.”

Foodborne illness isn’t just a stomachache. It can change lives - like Dona's - forever.

Read her full story and learn why Dona is now a passionate voice for food safety reform:
🔗 https://stopfoodborneillness.org/stories/dona/

#StopFoodborneIllness #facesoffoodsafety #vibrio #foodsafetymatters #seafoodsafety #oysters #foodsafety #foodsafetyadvocate

🌍 Happy World Food Safety Day! 🌍 Today, we

🌍 Happy World Food Safety Day! 🌍

Today, we join the global community in recognizing that food safety is everyone’s business. From farm to fork, and everywhere in between.

At Stop Foodborne Illness, this day is personal. We continue to honor the survivors, families, and advocates who remind us why safe food matters, not just on June 7, but every single day.

Foodborne illness is preventable, and together, we can build a food system that protects all people, everywhere.

On this World Food Safety Day, let’s recommit to:
✅ Listening to those impacted by foodborne illness
✅ Strengthening food safety culture
✅ Advancing smart policies and prevention practices
✅ Ensuring that safe food is a shared responsibility

Because behind every statistic is a story reminding us that we deserve to be confident that every meal is safe to eat.

#WorldFoodSafetyDay #StopFoodborneIllness #foodsafetymatters #preventionispossible #voicesoffoodsafety #safefoodforall

Nominations are now open for The Alliance to Stop

Nominations are now open for The Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness' 2025 40 Food Safety Professionals Under 40 list!

Do you know a young professional (or are you one) who’s making an impact in food safety or food safety culture?

Nominate them today for The Alliance’s annual “40 Under 40” list! Honorees can come from academia, industry, or regulatory spaces and should be passionate about protecting public health through food safety.

✅ Nominees must be between 18 and 39 years old as of July 7
✅ Self-nominations are welcome!
✅ Applications require a resume + short cover letter highlighting leadership and impact

🗓 Deadline to submit: Monday, July 7 at 11:59pm CT
🔗 Apply/Nominate here: https://stopfoodborneillness.org/alliance-40-under-40/

Let’s recognize the voices shaping the future of food safety.

#FoodSafety #Leadership #40Under40 #PublicHealth #NextGenLeaders #StopFoodborneIllness #YoungProfessionals #FoodSafetyCulture #AlliancetoStopFoodborneIllness

It's National Dairy Month! Milk is a delicious a

It's National Dairy Month!

Milk is a delicious and nutritious part of many people’s diets, but how you drink it matters when it comes to the health of you and your family.

Here’s what you need to know:
Pasteurized milk is the safest choice. Pasteurization is a simple heat process that kills harmful bacteria without changing the taste or nutrition. It’s how we make milk safe for everyone; from toddlers to grandparents.

Raw milk (milk that hasn’t been pasteurized) can carry dangerous germs like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. These can cause serious illness, especially for children, pregnant people, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system.

We know raw milk may seem “natural,” but it’s not worth the risk. Just one glass can have lifelong consequences.

This #NationalDairyMonth, let’s celebrate milk, but make sure it’s pasteurized.

Protect your family. Drink safe. Stay healthy.

#StopFoodborneIllness #safemilk #foodsafety #rawmilkrisks #rawmilk

The MAHA report says: “The American food system

The MAHA report says: “The American food system is safe but could be healthier.”
We say: It’s generally safe, but it could be safer and healthier.

Foodborne illness isn’t just a stomachache. Many survivors live with long-term health consequences like IBS, Guillain-Barré syndrome, reactive arthritis, and more. These chronic outcomes deserve national attention, yet the MAHA report has left them out.

We’re also concerned by a key error: MAHA claims the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) imposes burdens on small farms. The truth is that small farms are *exempt* from FSMA requirements.

A stronger, more accurate vision for our food system must address both foodborne illness and chronic diet-related diseases, with facts that reflect reality.

#foodsafety #MAHAReport #MAHA #chronicillness #FSMA #foodpolicy #StopFoodborneIllness #foodsafetyculture

“None of us ever imagined that the food we were

“None of us ever imagined that the food we were eating might not be safe.”

In 1997, Lindsay was a happy and healthy 11-year-old, until a strawberry dessert at school changed her life.

Starting with body aches and a fever, she quickly escalated into a life-threatening illness. Lindsay was one of hundreds of children infected with Hepatitis A from contaminated frozen strawberries served in school cafeterias. She was hospitalized for six days, too weak to open her eyes, crying out in pain from dehydration and relentless vomiting.

“I lost 10% of my body weight. My body convulsed in dry heaves. I hadn’t eaten in a week.”

Even after leaving the hospital, Lindsay faced long-term effects: hair loss, shingles, fatigue, and chronic pain. Her family’s nightmare continued when her sister nearly died from E. coli just 18 months later.

💚 Lindsay bravely shares her story to raise awareness and push for stronger food safety protections so no other child or family endures what hers did.

🔗 Read her full story: https://stopfoodborneillness.org/stories/lindsay/

#StopFoodborneIllness #facesoffoodsafety #hepatitisa #foodsafetymatters #seafoodsafety #strawberries #foodsafety #foodsafetyadvocate

FDA warning letters are one of the first signs tha

FDA warning letters are one of the first signs that something’s wrong in our food system but right now, they’ve stalled.

Due to staff layoffs, the FDA’s Human Foods Program hasn’t publicly posted any warning letters since January of this year, creating a dangerous gap in communication that puts both consumers and the food industry at risk.

“These letters are an integral part of FDA’s enforcement power,” said Sandra Eskin, CEO of STOP Foodborne Illness. “They help identify problems before they lead to outbreaks, illnesses, or recalls.”

Without them, the public—and food producers—lose a vital early warning tool. We urge the FDA to restore transparency and get this critical info flowing again!

Learn more and sign up for recall notifications on our website at stopfoodobrneillness.org.

#foodsafetyculture #FDA #transparency #StopFoodborneIllness #publichealth #warningletters #recalls #HFP

In case you missed it! Stop Foodborne Illness CE

In case you missed it!

Stop Foodborne Illness CEO, Sandra Eskin was on WGN9’s Midday Fix last week to talk about the Food Safety Summit, the danger and frequency of foodborne illness, the effect that cuts to regulations and inspections can have on consumers, and how to prevent yourself from getting sick.

You can watch the full interview via our LinkinBio!

Thank you to the WGN9 crew for the opportunity to share our organization with the local Chicago population. If you are interested in getting recall notifications near you, sign up at www.stopfoodborneillness.org.

#StopFoodborneIllness #FoodSafetySummit #consumersafety #WGN9 #middayfix #chicagonews #foodsafetycommunity #foodsafety #foodsafetyculture

We are so grateful to everyone who attended the Fo

We are so grateful to everyone who attended the Food Safety Summit Gives Back Networking Reception and chose to support Stop Foodborne Illness.

Because of your generosity, we feel seen, supported, and inspired.

As we mark over three decades of advocacy, storytelling, and systems change, your donations help us continue our mission: to be the voice of those affected by foodborne illness and to build a safer, stronger food system through partnership, education, and policy change.

To the Food Safety Summit team, the sponsors, and every attendee who gave, thank you. You remind us that our work matters, and that we’re not doing it alone.

Together, we’re moving closer to our vision: a world without foodborne illness.

#StopFoodborneIllness #FoodSafetySummit #summitgivesback #thankyou #foodsafetycommunity #foodsafety #foodsafetyculture

Stop Foodborne Illness, through our program The Al

Stop Foodborne Illness, through our program The Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, is proud to be hosting and featured in three impactful events throughout the week.

Join us on Wednesday, May 14 for these can't-miss sessions:

🔹 Simple Food Safety Culture Tools with a Big Impact
🕗 8:00–9:00 AM
Learn how low- and no-cost tools can make a big difference in food safety culture, especially for small and mid-sized companies.
Panelists include: Monica Khoury (Nestlé), Larry Ball (Conagra Brands), Barbara Chamberlin (STOP advocate), Lily Yasuda (Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness)

🔹 Career Advice Through Turbulent Times
🕝 2:45–4:00 PM
Seasoned leaders reflect on navigating careers in food safety and policy and share the advice they wish they'd had.
Moderated by Vanessa Coffman (STOP), and featuring Sandra Eskin (STOP), Moazzam Chaudry (McCain Foods), Kelly Gartner (Jersey Mike’s)

🔹 Food Safety Summit Gives Back – Networking Reception
🕠 5:30–7:00 PM
This year’s Summit is giving back and Stop Foodborne Illness is honored to be the beneficiary for the third year in a row!
Join us for food, drinks, and great conversation as we celebrate 31 years of STOP’s work advocating for safer food and honoring the voices of those impacted by foodborne illness.
Your donations help us continue our mission to prevent foodborne illness by driving policy, culture change, and collaboration across sectors.

Let’s keep building a world without foodborne illness together. See you at the Summit!

#FoodSafetySummit #StopFoodborneIllness #AllianceToStopFoodborneIllness #foodsafetyculture #networking #jointhealliance #summitgivesback

💪 Your story can save lives! When you become

💪 Your story can save lives!

When you become a Constituent Advocate with Stop Foodborne Illness, you help:

✅ Raise awareness about foodborne illness
✅ Educate policymakers & industry leaders
✅ Push for stronger food safety regulations
✅ Ensure safer food for future generations
✅ Support those affected by foodborne illness

Turn your experience into action! Join us today.

Learn more by emailing info@stopfoodborneillness.org

#foodsafety #StopFoodborneIllness #speakout #FDAreform #safemilk #foodrecalls #advocateforchange

We’ve seen this meme floating around and just wa

We’ve seen this meme floating around and just wanted to highlight that there HAS NEVER been limits to Salmonella in poultry due to the @chickencheck.in (National Chicken Council) lobbying against it.

@usdagov has a framework they’ve created alongside industry professionals, but they recently dropped it.

How does this Make America Healthy Again? We’re not sure, but we are certain that consumers will continue to get sick, and in greater numbers if nothing is done!

#usda #usdaorganic #salmonella #nationalchickencouncil #foodsafety #stopfoodborneillness

Follow on Instagram

As the voice of people affected by foodborne illness, we collaborate with partners in academia, the food industry, and government to prevent foodborne illness. We advocate for effective food safety policy and facilitate culture change to increase food safety.

Contact Us

773-269-6555
773-883-3098
info@stopfoodborneillness.org
4809 N Ravenswood, #214 Chicago, IL 60640
Media
Contact Form
Privacy Policy

Stop Foodborne Illness is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent the law allows.

© All rights reserved 2025