Foodborne illness (also known as foodborne disease or food poisoning) is any illness resulting from the food spoilage of contaminated food, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, toxins or parasites that contaminate food.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 48 million foodborne illness cases occur in the United States every year. At least 128,000 Americans are hospitalized, and 3,000 die after eating contaminated food.
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List of Deadliest Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
Below is a historical list of foodborne illness caused by infectious disease outbreaks with the greatest death toll.
| Year | Event | Agent | Company |
Infected
|
Deaths
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | botulism case from canned tuna | Botulism | A&P |
2
|
|
| 1971 | botulism case from Bon Vivant soup | Botulism | Bon Vivant Company |
2
|
1
|
| 1985 | California listeriosis outbreak in cheese | Listeria | Jalisco Cheese |
>86
|
47-52
|
| 1985 | U.S. salmonellosis outbreak in milk | Salmonella | Hillfarm Dairy |
5,295
|
9
|
| 1993 | Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak | E. coli O157:H7 | Jack in the Box |
>700
|
4
|
| 1996 | Odwalla E. coli outbreak | E. coli O157:H7 | Odwalla |
66
|
1
|
| 1998 | U.S. listeriosis outbreak in cold cuts | Listeria | Bil Mar Foods |
>100
|
18-21
|
| 2002 | U.S. listeriosis outbreak in poultry | Listeria | Pilgrim’s Pride |
>50
|
8
|
| 2003 | U.S. hepatitis A outbreak | Hepatitis A |
555
|
3
|
|
| 2005 | South Wales E. coli O157 outbreak | E. coli O157 | local butcher |
157
|
1
|
| 2006 | North American E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in spinach | E. coli O157:H7 | Dole Foods |
>205
|
3
|
| 2008 | Canadian listeriosis outbreak in cold cuts | Listeria | Maple Leaf Foods |
>50
|
22
|
| 2008 | U.S. salmonellosis outbreak in peanuts | Salmonella | Peanut Corporation of America |
>200
|
9
|
| 2011 | Germany E. coli O104:H4 outbreak | E. coli O104:H4 |
>3,950
|
53
|
|
| 2011 | U.S. listeriosis outbreak in cantaloupes | Listeria | Jensen Farms |
146
|
30
|
| 2014 | Danish listeriosis outbreak | Listeria | Jørn A. Rullepølser |
> 37
|
15
|
| 2016 | Campylobacteriosis from unchlorinated drinking water | Campylobacter | Hastings District Council |
5,500
|
3
|
Latest USDA Food Safety Recalls
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) ensures that our nation’s meat, poultry and processed egg supply is wholesome, safe and properly labeled. The USDA’s mission is to meet new foodborne safety challenges through prevention-based policies and practices.
