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Raw poultry (turkey, chicken, duck, goose, quail, etc.) may contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. Proper preparation, cooking, and storage procedures must be followed - or a foodborne illness can occur.

Pork requires the safe preparation, cooking temperature, and proper storage of leftovers in order to prevent food illness. The USDA recommends cooking pork to a minimum cooking temperature of 145°F - as measured with a food thermometer - in order to kill any pathogens.

Ready to start grilling hamburgers? Bacteria is of special concern with ground beef - because when beef is ground - more of the meat surface is exposed to potential harmful bacteria. For this reason, ground beef must be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F, so as to kill all the bacteria and avoid foodborne illness.

It is very important to understand that certain groups of people have a higher risk for contracting a foodborne illness - and have a greater severity of an illness.

Bacteria are a member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms - some of which can cause human disease. Although most bacteria are harmless or often beneficial, some bacteria are pathogenic, or those that can pose a threat to human health or cause illness. Bacteria and viruses are responsible for most foodborne illnesses and are the biggest threat to food safety.