foodborne

adjective

food·borne | \ ˈfüd-ˌbȯrn

variants: or food-borne

Definition of foodborne

: 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