The Most Dangerous Foods in Your Fridge

None of these foods are definitely dangerous, but they’re often associated with foodborne illness outbreaks. When contamination happens, it usually involves one (or more) of these three types of bacteria: salmonella, listeria, or E. coli.

Here are the 10 foods most frequently linked to serious illness, starting with the most dangerous:

1. Deli Meat – 87 hospitalizations and 10 deaths reported last year.
2. Cucumbers – No deaths, but 173 hospitalizations.
3. Raw Milk & Raw Milk Cheese – 29 emergency room visits.
4. Queso Fresco & Cotija Cheese – 2 deaths and 23 hospitalized.
5. Eggs – Caused 34 hospitalizations.
6. Onions – 1 death and 34 hospitalizations.
7. Leafy Greens – 1 death and 36 people treated.
8. Organic Carrots – 1 death and 20 hospitalized.
9. Organic Basil – 4 hospitalizations.
10. Pre-Cooked Meat Products – Includes ready-to-eat salads and frozen burritos, often recalled due to contamination concerns.

While these foods are commonly tied to outbreaks, proper handling, storage, and cooking can significantly reduce the risk.