Last year was one for the record books at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). They investigated more foodborne illness outbreaks than during any year in the past decade. Norovirus is on the rise, along with other illnesses like salmonella and E. coli. Around 3,000 Americans die from diseases transmitted through food each year.

So what does this mean for the U.S. consumer who wants to just eat a darn salad without any trips to the bathroom – or the hospital? This month, you should know what foods to watch out for, how to prevent foodborne illness in your own home and why an increase in reported outbreaks might actually be good news.