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Episode Transcription
I’m Susie Criag, this is Food Safety in a Minute
Have you had gastroenteritis this year? If you’ve been in good health but experienced vomiting and diarrhea, it’s likely you had a foodborne illness, norovirus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six Americans suffer from foodborne illnesses annually, resulting in 3,000 fatalities. Fifty-eight percent of foodborne illnesses are caused by norovirus, often referred to as stomach flu.
Outbreaks peak between November and April, with a significant surge in December and January, just in time for holiday gatherings. Norovirus is highly contagious and often linked to poor hand hygiene practices.
In 2024, consider two resolutions: Wash your hands with soap and water before bare hand contact with food and avoid food preparation when you have norovirus symptoms.
From Washington State University Extension, this is Food Safety in a Minute.
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC’s Role in Food Safety. Accessed online 10/16/23.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Norovirus Burden and Trends: Burden of
Norovirus Illness in the United States. Accessed online 10/16/23.