At-Risk Populations
This page includes fact sheets written with specific at-risk populations in mind. Infants and young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems caused by cancer treatment, diabetes, AIDS, and bone marrow and organ transplants are at greatest risk for foodborne illness.
The list also includes a few fact sheets for specific groups of consumers, such as those with limited English proficiency.
You may also want to watch In Their Own Words: Discussions with At-Risk Patients and Their Caregivers, a video for public health professionals and health care providers (8:15, WMV).
At-Risk Booklet: A Need-To-Know Guide for Those at Risk.
Children; Young Adults: See the Kids & Teens Page
FOOD SAFETY MESSAGE CARDS
PDF files are suitable for printing.
Keep Hands Clean (PhotoShop PDF; 4.2mb)
Available in similar format/size in: Arabic | Chinese | Haitian Creole | Hindi | Hmong | Japanese | Korean | Spanish | Vietnamese
IMMUNE COMPROMISED: BOOKLET SERIES
These booklets, new or revised in September 2011, are hosted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (exiting this site). | Infographic / Ordering Information (PDF; 1.6mb)
This video provides more information about the booklets and other efforts to bring food safety information to those at greatest risk.
![]() |
Food Safety for People with Cancer | PDF A need-to-know guide for those who have been diagnosed with cancer. |
![]() |
Food Safety for Transplant Recipients | PDF A need-to-know guide for bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients. |
![]() |
Food Safety for People with HIV/AIDS | PDF A need-to-know guide for those who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. |
![]() |
Food Safety for Pregnant Women | PDF Pregnant women and their unborn children have a higher risk of developing certain foodborne illnesses. |
![]() |
Food Safety for Older Adults | PDF A need-to-know guide for those 65 years of age and older. |
![]() |
Food Safety for People with Diabetes | PDF A need-to-know guide for those who have been diagnosed with diabetes. |
Listeriosis E-card (PDF Only) | Español PDF
A postcard that explain how to avoid listeriosis during pregnancy.
Protect Your Baby and Yourself From Listeriosis | PDF | En Español | En Español PDF
An easy-to-read, one-page fact sheet emphasizing safe food handling for a healthy pregnancy.
Older Adults and Food Safety | PDF | En Español
Knowledge of safe food handling is needed to help seniors stay healthy.
To Your Health! Food Safety for Seniors
Find out how times have changed, and why seniors may face special risks from foodborne illness.
The En Español section of this website includes news releases, fact sheets, and food defense/emergency response materials that have been translated into Spanish. Spanish translations of recall news releases are also available.