10 risky foods identified in new analysis: A food safety expert breaks it down

(SavorNation) – A good scare is usually welcome around Halloween, but not when it comes to food safety.

Independent nonprofit Consumer Reports released an in-depth analysis of the 10 foods most often linked to foodborne illness last year. Included are deli meat, a variety of vegetables, raw milk, soft cheeses, eggs and cooked poultry and meat. Food safety expert Rosalee S. Hellberg, Ph.D., explained why these foods are often considered to be riskier than others.

Consumer Reports listed cucumbers, onions, organic carrots and leafy greens as among the top foods linked with foodborne illness in 2024. It’s no surprise that leafy greens are on the list, Hellberg said, as they have a large surface area, can be exposed to contaminated water or soil, and are often eaten raw. Carrots are typicall