Food safety isn’t just a regulatory concern—it’s a public health mission. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plays a vital role in tracking foodborne illness, informing healthcare professionals, and educating the public. Whether you're a food operator, clinician, or simply someone looking to protect your family, the CDC offers data-driven guidance to reduce risk and promote safety at every level of the food chain.
Explore the CDC’s Food Safety portal for tools, statistics, and recommendations designed to protect public health.
What You'll Find
The CDC Food Safety page is organized to serve a wide audience with focused, actionable resources:
For Everyone
🔹 About Food Safety – Overview of CDC’s role in monitoring and preventing foodborne illnesses.
🔹 Symptoms – Guides on recognizing foodborne illness symptoms and when to seek help.
🔹 Risk Factors – Learn who’s most at risk, including pregnant women, young children, and older adults.
🔹 Four Steps to Food Safety – Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill—core safe food practices for home and work.
🔹 Educational Materials and Videos – Downloadable tools for schools, consumers, and training programs.
🔹 Foods That Can Cause Food Poisoning – Learn which foods are high-risk and how to handle them safely.
For Health Care Providers
🔹 Information for Healthcare Professionals – Clinical guidance on diagnosing and reporting foodborne illness.
For Public Health Professionals
🔹 Foodborne Illness Burden – Statistics on illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths caused by contaminated food.
🔹 Foodborne Illness Sources – Explore CDC research into the most common sources of foodborne pathogens.
More Information
The CDC provides extensive outreach and data to support food safety at every level—from households to health systems.
Main Portal: CDC Food Safety Home
For general CDC inquiries:
CDC Info Hotline: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
Email Form: CDC-Info
Hours: 8 AM – 8 PM EST, Monday–Friday