Hardly a news cycle goes by without there being a story about a consumer sickened by a foodborne illness or an exposure to an exotic pathogen. It is unfortunately the case that we need to become educated about these microbial threats, no matter what hat we wear: consumer, teacher, health care provider, business person, patient, or parent. Here is a free online guide to keep handy for future reference, the Bad Bug Book, produced by the FDA. You can find it through this link: The Bad Bug Book. It is a comprehensive compendium that includes information about E. coli, Salmonella, Staph, Campylobacter, Listeria, Botulism, Shigella, as well as common viruses, parasites and food borne toxins.
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