Many people get sick each year from the food they eat.
They may have diarrhea, vomiting, an upset stomach, fever, or cramps. They often think they have the flu, but the real problem is foodborne illness caused by bacteria in the food they ate a few hours or several days ago. Even though the United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world, there are still more than two million cases of foodborne illness each year. Reported cases of foodborne illness are just the tip of the iceberg. Most foodborne illness can be avoided if food is handled properly.