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Eating is a favorite past time for many, but for the 76 million Americans who suffer from food poisoning every year, it does more than just satisfy the appetite. According to a former Food and Drug Administration economist, the US loses nearly $152 billion every year to food-borne illness, some of which is spent on hospital visits caused by food poisoning. These statistics place a lot of responsibility in the hands of our cooks but Alachua County's Public Health Director Paul Meyers says there simple ways to prevent it.

The same FDA report says there are 5 million food-related illness deaths a year. Meyers says most food poisoning resolves itself, but some cases can be severe.

Some of most expensive illnesses for the nation were samonella and listeria, found in a number of foods. One type of shellfish-borne bacteria can cost nearly $3 million per case to treat. Meyers says foods that are high in protein are good harbors for bacteria and extra precautions need to be taken when handling them.

The Senate is due to vote on a food safety bill which will give the FDA more resources to fight food-borne illnesses, this bill has already been passed by the House. If passed, this bill should help settle the nation's stick stomachs -- currently, for every 1 billion dollars the FDA spends on prevention, consumers spent $85 on consequences.