The federal government is looking into three salmonella outbreaks that have made several Minnesotans and many other people across the country sick. Three people in the state died and more than 20 became ill after eating tainted cantaloupe late last year.

Just last week a brand of charcuterie meats was recalled after two dozen people got sick, including in Minnesota. And back in November there was an outbreak in dog food, affecting pet owners who touched the food or their dog’s saliva.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that cases of foodborne illness declined during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. But by 2022, the latest year for which data is available, they had increased to levels seen before the pandemic.

Lisa Robinson, Vice President of Global Food Safety and Public Health at Minnesota-based EcoLab, is well-versed in health and safety issues in the complicated system that churns out much of our food. She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to explain.