{"id":353271,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:47","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/product-liability\/foods-most-associated-with-food-poisoning.html"},"modified":"2025-09-10T16:22:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T21:22:00","slug":"foods-most-associated-with-food-poisoning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/product-liability\/foods-most-associated-with-food-poisoning.html","title":{"rendered":"Avoiding Food Poisoning: High-Risk Foods and Sources of Contamination"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Avoiding Food Poisoning: High-Risk Foods and Sources of Contamination<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Some foods pose a higher risk of foodborne illness<\/span> than others. These foods can be riskier due to how they are produced, handled, or consumed. Understanding which foods are most susceptible and using smart food safety<\/span> practices can greatly reduce your risk of food poisoning<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Any food can cause a foodborne illness<\/span>. But certain foods are more likely to cause food poisoning<\/span> than others. For instance, raw meat<\/span> is much more likely to make you sick than boxed cereals.<\/p>\n

According to the\u00a0U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA<\/span>)<\/a>, one in six Americans suffers from food poisoning<\/span> each year. The best way to avoid food poisoning<\/span> is to know the risks and be diligent about food safety<\/span>.<\/p>\n

This article focuses on the types of foods<\/span> most likely to cause a foodborne illness<\/span>. It also discusses other factors that may cause food poisoning<\/span>.<\/p>\n

If you have gotten seriously ill after eating food<\/span> from a grocery store or restaurant, you could have a legal claim for damages. Contact a product liability attorney<\/a> to assess your situation and learn your legal options.<\/p>\n

Undercooked<\/span> and Raw Beef and Pork<\/h2>\n

Raw meat<\/span> and undercooked<\/span> meat<\/a>\u00a0are common causes of <\/span>food poisoning<\/span>. You cannot kill dangerous organisms and bacteria if you don\u2019t thoroughly cook meats like ground beef<\/span> and steak. Raw proteins are hazardous because they contain organisms capable of making you sick. These include\u00a0E. coli<\/span> (Escherichia coli<\/span>), Salmonella<\/span>,\u00a0Listeria<\/span>, and certain parasites<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Food preparation techniques can reduce the high risk of food poisoning<\/span> from meat. The only way to kill these organisms is to\u00a0cook meat to the proper temperature<\/a>. For instance, cook ham and pork<\/a> to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit and beef to 160 degrees.<\/p>\n

While some people can eat rare steak without getting sick, eating rare, medium-rare, or medium ground beef<\/span> or hamburgers<\/a> is much riskier. This is because whole cuts of beef (like steak) are typically contaminated only on the surface. Searing the surface of a steak\u2014even if it\u2019s rare\u2014typically kills most surface bacteria. Conversely, the grinding process for ground beef<\/span> mixes any surface bacteria throughout the entire batch. This means foodborne pathogens can be present in the patty, not just on the surface.<\/p>\n

Still, it\u2019s wise to err on the side of caution and only eat red meat that is thoroughly cooked to a safe temperature.<\/p>\n

If you serve contaminated meat to your friends or guests, there is a good chance they\u2019ll get sick. If this happens, they may be able to sue you for damages<\/a>. Follow basic safety rules when preparing any meat.<\/p>\n

Poultry<\/h2>\n

Poultry can cause salmonella<\/span>, listeria<\/span>, and\u00a0campylobacter<\/span><\/a>. These\u00a0pathogens\u00a0can remain in poultry meat even after processing and storage. Poultry includes:<\/p>\n