foodborne
adjective
food·borne
ˈfüd-ˌbȯrn 
variants
or food-borne
: caused by food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms or toxic substances
foodborne illness
Most foodborne outbreaks of norovirus illness are likely to arise though direct contamination of food by a food handler immediately before its consumption.—
Robert Benziker
Robert BenzikerBacteria called campylobacter contaminate most chickens that go to market in the United States, and the bacteria are the most common cause of food-borne illness, bringing on some two million cases of food poisoning in the country annually.—Philip J. Hilts
Philip J. Hilts
also
: relating to or being a microorganism or toxin contaminating food
Anderson and others believe that use of the drugs in healthy animals is playing a role in changing the very nature of foodborne bacteria, creating strains that are resistant to antibiotics used in human medicine. —Jennifer Ackerman
Jennifer Ackerman Listeria is a big problem for makers of ready-to-eat products such as deli meats, soft cheeses and potato salad. The microorganism continues to grow in refrigerated food, making it far harder to control than other types of food-borne pathogens, such as salmonella. —Scott Kilman
Scott Kilman Examples of foodborne in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Listeriosis, or listeria poisoning, is a foodborne bacterial infection most commonly caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, with about 260 deaths annually, according to the CDC.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S, causing 1,600 infections and 260 deaths each year.
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
In addition, the agency could require that companies that market raw food diets place warning labels on their products regarding the risk of foodborne illness in pets and in humans handling the products.
—Linda Carroll, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foodborne
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Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, with about 260 deaths annually, according to the CDC.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S, causing 1,600 infections and 260 deaths each year.
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
In addition, the agency could require that companies that market raw food diets place warning labels on their products regarding the risk of foodborne illness in pets and in humans handling the products.
—Linda Carroll, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foodborne
Cite this Entry
“Foodborne.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foodborne. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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