CTV.ca News this morning published an article on foodborne illness, where it comes from, and how to avoid it.

"Recent cases of food-borne illness raise questions not only about farming practices and government regulations, but also what steps consumers need take to ensure their own safety.

For years, North Americans have heard food safety tips relating to meat. We’ve been instructed repeatedly on the steps to avoid diseases triggered by E. coli and salmonella — proper handling, cooking and cleaning.

E. coli, often called the hamburger disease, causes bloody diarrhea, and can destroy the kidneys and other organs. Salmonella, responsible for about 15 per cent of all cases of food poisoning, is most often linked to poultry and food containing eggs."