The majority of cases of acute food poisoning are caused by bacteria such as , , Escherichia coli , and and their toxi.... (see (e.g.,

Among the chemical poisons contaminating foods are certain heavy metals used in fungicides and insecticides (see ). Instances of metal poisoning may sometimes be traced to the serving or preparation of acidic foods in certain cookware (see ; ). The more common poisonous plants and animals that cause food poisoning in humans include certain varieties of mussels and clams (see ); ocean and freshwater fish (see ); fungi (see ); plants (e.g., water hemlock, rhubarb greens); and nuts (e.g., akee nuts), seeds (e.g., tung seeds), and beans (e.g., fava beans).