foodborne

adjective

food·​borne ˈfüd-ˌbȯrn 

variants or food-borne

: caused by food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms or toxic substances

foodborne illness

Most foodborne outbreaks of norovirus illness are likely to arise though direct contamination of food by a food handler immediately before its consumption.

—Robert Benziker

Bacteria called campylobacter contaminate most chickens that go to market in the United States, and the bacteria are the most common cause of food-borne illness, bringing on some two million cases of food poisoning in the country annually.

—Philip J. Hilts

also : relating to or being a microorganism or toxin contaminating food

Anderson and others believe that use of the drugs in healthy animals is playing a role in changing the very nature of foodborne bacteria, creating strains that are resistant to antibiotics used in human medicine.

—Jennifer Ackerman

Listeria is a big problem for makers of ready-to-eat products such as deli meats, soft cheeses and potato salad. The microorganism continues to grow in refrigerated food, making it far harder to control than other types of food-borne pathogens, such as salmonella.

—Scott Kilman

Examples of foodborne in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While foodborne illnesses are hard to track, salmonella most likely causes more than any other bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —Aria Bendix, NBC News, 12 Jan. 2024

One issue that grabbed her attention at the time was foodborne illness. —Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024

Raw beef often contains harmful bacteria such as salmonella, campylobacter, listeria and E. coli - each of which can disrupt the body's digestive tract and cause foodborne illness. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024

Pathogens: These are the bad guys, like Salmonella and E. coli, that can cause foodborne illness if milk isn’t handled properly. —Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Feb. 2024

More than 100 million Americans are expected to throw or attend a Super Bowl party this year, and foodborne illness is no joke. —Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2024

These guidelines, which fall under the umbrella of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), advise businesses to implement proactive protective measures—like sanitizing wash water or guaranteeing the equipment is clean—to reduce the chances of foodborne illness, Bucknavage says. —Ashia Aubourg, SELF, 7 Sep. 2023

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that a relatively new strain of E. coli is responsible for multiple outbreaks of foodborne illness in recent years, including those related to romaine lettuce and other leafy greens. —Laura Reiley, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2023

Salmonella causes more foodborne illness than any other bacteria, according to the CDC. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 25 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

foodborne

adjective

food·​borne

ˈfüd-ˌbȯrn

: caused by food contaminated with harmful microorganisms or toxic substances