Food Safety

Listeria is a bacteria that can cause a rare but serious illness called listeriosis. Those who are pregnant, the elderly, and those with a weakened immune system have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill.

Yersiniosis (yer-sin-ee-o-sis) is an infection caused by the bacteria Yersinia. Yersinia is a strong bacteria that can continue to live in environments without much oxygen and in refrigeration. One common source of infection can be contaminated food such as raw or undercooked pork.

Amebiasis is an infection caused by a parasite, called Entamoeba histolytica. It lives in the feces (poop) of a person. Most infections occur in a person’s stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract). In some people, the disease may occur in the liver, lungs, skin, and other parts of the body.

Escherichia coli, also called E. coli, are bacteria that are often found in the intestines of people and animals. There are different types of E. coli. Some types of E. coli are not harmful, but others like E. coli O157:H7, can make some people very sick. Usually illness is caused by eating contaminated food or water, having contact with someone who is sick with the bacteria, or animals that carry it.