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
Raw chicken was thawing in the handwash sink, a violation that can turn into foodborne illness, and a violation of using the handwash sink for anything but washing hands.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
On September 29 the FDA had launched an inspection of Black Sheep’s egg-processing facility and found 40 environmental samples that were positive for Salmonella, a bacterium that can cause serious foodborne illness.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2025
The George Washington researchers plan to explore interventions that could reduce the risk of foodborne infections.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Researchers also found that the meat had been purchased from grocery stores in lower-income neighborhoods — and that people who lived in those areas had a 60% higher chance of developing a foodborne UTI.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foodborne
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
On September 29 the FDA had launched an inspection of Black Sheep’s egg-processing facility and found 40 environmental samples that were positive for Salmonella, a bacterium that can cause serious foodborne illness.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2025
The George Washington researchers plan to explore interventions that could reduce the risk of foodborne infections.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Researchers also found that the meat had been purchased from grocery stores in lower-income neighborhoods — and that people who lived in those areas had a 60% higher chance of developing a foodborne UTI.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share