Unsafe food that contains viruses, bacteria, toxins, or parasites causes over 200 diseases that include diarrhea and serious illnesses such as cancers. Apart from health risks, these preventable illnesses lead to a loss in productivity, higher medical bills, and pose a huge public health burden. What causes foodborne illnesses? Many types of microorganisms can cause foodborne illnesses including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Chemical substances and toxins in the food also lead to illnesses. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that 64 percent of foodborne illnesses resulting in hospitalizations were caused by harmful bacteria, 27 percent by viruses, and 9 percent by parasites. The most common pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses include: E.coli - E.coli is a type of bacteria that can enter our body through contaminated food or water. While some types of E-coli are harmless and live in our gut, other types cause serious illnesses. Norovirus - T