When certain disease-causing bacteria, viruses, or parasites contaminate food, they can cause foodborne illness. The food supply in the United States is among the safest in the world â but it can still be a source of infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foodborne pathogens cause up to 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths in the United States each year.