Final answer:
The CDC estimates that each year, 48 million Americans get sick from foodborne illnesses, with 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. These diseases result from a variety of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 48 million people that get sick from a foodborne illness each year in the United States. Among these cases, about 128,000 are hospitalized, and roughly 3,000 result in death. These illnesses can be caused by a multitude of pathogens, with more than 250 foodborne diseases identified, most of which are infections originating from various bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Additionally, harmful toxins and chemicals can also cause foodborne illnesses.
Instances of foodborne illness range from sporadic cases to larger outbreaks. For example, a significant outbreak was that of Salmonella, associated with onions from California. While preventing foodborne disease is a public health challenge, understanding the predominant causes, such as Norovirus, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter, and Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), is crucial for reducing the incidence of these infections.