The US government estimates that there are 48 million cases of foodborne illness each year. That's about one in six Americans dealing with symptoms such as upset stomach, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. According to data collected from personal injury law firm Wagner Reese, certain foods in the fridge are more likely to cause foodborne illness than others.
As of April 2025, Wagner Reese analyzed Google search volume and TikTok trend growth for phrases like "can [food] make you sick" and "how long is [food] safe in the fridge." Using both total searches and how fast concern is rising, the firm calculated a weighted score to assign each food a concern level: high, medium or mild.
According to Wagner Reese's methodology, the following are the 15 refrigerated foods raising the most red flags regarding food safety concerns. We also included the US Department of Agriculture recommendations for food storage via its FoodKeeper app.
1. Unpasteurized apple cider
Unpasteurized apple cider hasn't been treated to kill harmful bacteria and could cause foodborne illness. jayk7/Getty Images
Level of consumer concern: High
Reality: In a post on juice safety, the US Food and Drug Administration reports that unpasteurized juice that hasn't been treated to kill harmful bacteria could be contaminated and cause foodborne illness.
Pasteurized fresh apple cider lasts two to three days at room temperature, but if kept in the fridge, it can stay good for two to three weeks.
2. Rotisserie chicken
Level of consumer concern: High
... continue reading