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
Robert BenzikerBacteria 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
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
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
Scott Kilman Examples of foodborne in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Most coliform bacteria don’t cause foodborne illness, but many of the strains that do are types of E. coli.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Cutting boards are porous and can harbor bacteria like E. coli and salmonella that cause foodborne illness.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
Serious Illness The harmful bacteria in raw milk can cause foodborne illness, including the gastrointestinal disorder commonly known as food poisoning.
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 24 Feb. 2025
Listeria, a type of bacteria, is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the US, killing about 260 people a year.
—Katherine Dillinger, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foodborne
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Cutting boards are porous and can harbor bacteria like E. coli and salmonella that cause foodborne illness.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
Serious Illness The harmful bacteria in raw milk can cause foodborne illness, including the gastrointestinal disorder commonly known as food poisoning.
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 24 Feb. 2025
Listeria, a type of bacteria, is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the US, killing about 260 people a year.
—Katherine Dillinger, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foodborne
Cite this Entry
“Foodborne.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foodborne. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share