What are characteristics of food that makes people sick?

uncooked

rotten

stale

are characteristics of food, but it is not these things that make people sick it is the bacteria found in in the food

To elaborate . . .

If you are wondering how you can tell if a food could make you sick, obvious spoilage could be an indicator - but it is not fail-safe. Improperly handled food can be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, toxins and parasites that could make one ill, but cannot be detected with the unaided senses.

If you are asking for the definition of a 'potentially hazardous food', that will vary with the country. U.S. FDA's Food Code includes several components in its definition, including

• A food that requires temperature control because it is capable of supporting the rapid and progressive growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms.
• A food with an aw value above 0.85.
• A food with a pH level above 4.6.