Although most are preventable, foodborne illnesses continue to be a big problem in the United States. It seems as if every few months we hear about another food-borne illness outbreak, whether it is caused by the well-known culprits Salmonella and E. coli, or less familiar organisms like Listeria, or Vibrio. The CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that there are almost 50 million illnesses linked to foodborne illness annually.  Why are these outbreaks so common and how can you stay safe?