A lot of our food has microorganisms, or “germs,” in and on it.

Microorganisms are living things, like bacteria, that are too small to see without a microscope.

These bacteria on the right have a fun, spiral shape, but they're actually dangerous. Campylobacter [camp-ee-low-BACK-ter] can make you very sick.

Is it a space monster? No! It's an extreme close-up of E. coli bacteria, as seen under a powerful microscope.

Some microorganisms are actually good for us! For example, our stomachs are full of bacteria that help us digest our food.

But others can make us sick if we eat them by mistake. So how do we avoid them? The easiest way is to practice safe eating habits.

Remember: Food safety ROCKS!!