These 10 foods are most likely to give you food poisoning — here's why they're particularly risky

Joern Pollex / Staff/GettyImages

• Consumer Reports ranked the top 10 foods recently linked to outbreaks and recalls.
• Leafy greens, deli meat and cheese, and ground beef topped the list.

From romaine lettuce salads to raw cookie dough, many modern fridge staples have a history of harboring bacteria that can make you sick.

As many as 48 million Americans fall ill from salmonella, listeria, E. coli, or other food borne bacteria and viruses each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of these infections include diarrhea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. Most people recover from food poisoning after a few unpleasant days, but in rare cases food borne illness can be deadly or require intensive care.

Luckily, most foods are just a wash or bake away from safe consumption. The majority of bacteria in food can be killed at high temperatures or avoided with smart kitchen hygiene, food safety experts have previously told Insider.

On March 30, Consumer Reports published a list of the top 10 riskiest foods based on food recalls and food borne illness data tracked by the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Agriculture between 2017 and 2022.

Here's their list of foods that are most commonly contaminated, and how to consume them safely.