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The year 2026 has been an unusually severe and active year for food safety issues, particularly when measured by outbreak case counts and recall volume by weight. Now Americans are on high alert to protect their loved ones around the table this holiday season.

A new national survey from Orlando Health reveals nearly 60% of U.S. adults are more concerned about foodborne illnesses this year than in previous years.

"It sounds scary to hear about all of these different bacteria or these new infections, E. coli, Salmonella, Cyclospora, Campylobacter, Giardia, but in reality, they're not new. We've treated them before," said Daniel Egan, M.D., a physician with Orlando Health Medical Group - Infectious Diseases. "If you're more aware of it, you're also going to take more steps to prevent those kinds of infections."

"Holiday cooking is unique compared to your normal daily or weekly cooking," Egan said. "Cooking large meals, you might skip a few steps here and there to try and be more efficient. But that increases your risk of transmitting infection."

Symptoms, including vomiting, nausea, cramps, diarrhea and fever, can happen anywhere from six hours to several days after exposure to foodborne bacteria.

Mild cases that clear within a day can usually be managed at home. Egan advises going to the doctor when symptoms worsen or persist. Young children, older adults, pregnant women and immunocompromised people face the greatest risk of complications, such as dehydration and kidney problems.

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