Raw meat goo makes prime real estate for microbes, and a new study suggests these luxuriously moist abodes are a significant source of hidden foodborne illnesses, including urinary tract infections (UTIs).

"Urinary tract infections have long been considered a personal health issue, but our findings suggest that they are also a food safety problem," explains microbiologist Lance Price of George Washington University (GW).

What's more, the association between meat and UTIs was stronger in specific geographic areas. People living in low-income neighborhoods had a 60 percent higher risk of foodborne UTIs compared to those in wealthier locations.

"Your risk of infection should not depend on your ZIP code," says Price.

Millions of people suffer from UTIs every year. Women are especial

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