Foodborne Illness Content

Enemy at the Stomatal Gate: How Bacteria Trick Plants Into Letting Them Pass

Andy Fell — February 17, 2026 - 4:45pm

Plants have resources, and bacteria want them. Plants have gates on their leaves to keep the thieves out. But a nasty bug called Salmonella has figured out how to trick plants into opening up their safety gates so it can sneak in and live happily inside.

When people eat those contaminated leaves, they can get sick, sometimes severely. Because the bacteria are actually inside the leaves, they cannot be removed by washing.

Researchers Pinpoint Which Bird Species Pose Food Safety Risk to Crops

Katherine E Kerlin — January 05, 2022 - 9:00am

Concerns over foodborne risk from birds may not be as severe as once thought by produce farmers, according to research from the University of California, Davis, that found low instances of E. coli and Salmonella prevalence.

10 Tips to Keep Summer Grilling Safe

Robyn Frances Huey — June 30, 2015 - 8:00am

Warm weather means outdoor grilling, bringing families and friends together for fun, sun and good food. Unfortunately, it is the perfect environment for foodborne illnesses, too, which peak in the summer.