Common Food-Borne Pathogens
Find out about the most common food-borne pathogens, where they come from, how they're commonly transmitted and what their symptoms are.
Campylobacter jejuni is found in the intestinal tracts of animals and birds, raw milk, untreated water and sewage sludge.
Clostridium Botulinum is widely distributed in nature; soil, water, on plants, and intestinal tracts of animals and fish. Grows only in little or no oxygen.
Clostridium perfringens is found in soil, dust, sewage, and intestinal tracts of animals and humans. Grows only in little or no oxygen.
E. coli is found in the intestinal tracts of some mammals, raw milk, unchlorinated water; one of several strains of E. coli that can cause human illness.
Listeria monocytogenes is found in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, milk, soil, leaf vegetables; it can grow slowly at refrigerator temperatures.
Salmonella is found in the intestinal tracts and feces of animals; Salmonella Enteritidis is found in eggs.
Shigella is found in the human intestinal tract; it's rarely found in other animals.
Staphylococcus aureus is found on humans (skin, infected cuts, pimples, noses, and throats).
