Foodborne Illness and Food Poisoning

The purpose of this fact sheet is to 1) give consumers addtional information on whom to contact when sick, 2) how a sick person would be diagnosed, and 3) the questions your health care provider may ask. The fact sheet also provides a list of Maryland Health Departments, how reporting is important to your community and how this data is used, and lastly an optional list of foodbourne pathogens most problematic in Maryland

Clostridium botulinum (referred to as C. botulinum in this publication) is a spore-forming anaerobic bacterium that produces a potent neurotoxin. An anaerobic bacterium survives in low-oxygen environments, such as home-canned foods. Authors: Shauna C. Henley, Terry Serio, and Becky Ridgeway; Title: Clostridium botulinum: A Food Safety Risk to Home Food Preservation (FS-1031)

About 30.3 million Americans have diabetes, while 25% of Americans do not know they have diabetes. Diabetics are susceptible of acquiring a foodborne illness, but may not realize such risks. The fact sheet is to inform diabetics what foodborne illness is, how it specifically affects diabetics, and ways to reduce risk in a one page document.