Food Poisoning Outbreaks Illnesses Struck Nearly 30K in 2009 and 2010

Throughout 2009 and 2010, nearly 30,000 people throughout the United States suffered from food poisoning illnesses caused by more than 1,500 different outbreaks, according to new government data. 

According to a report issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 25, researchers identified 29,444 illnesses, 1,184 hospitalizations and at least 23 deaths that were linked to 675 outbreaks in 2009 and 852 in 2010.

The number of food poisoning outbreaks is actually down 32% when compared to the mean average of the five preceding years.

Did You Know?

Millions of Philips CPAP Machines Recalled

Philips DreamStation, CPAP and BiPAP machines sold in recent years may pose a risk of cancer, lung damage and other injuries.

Learn More

CDC researchers found that the most common single foodborne pathogen was norovirus, followed by salmonella. The food that caused the most illnesses in 2009 and 2010 were eggs, which is likely partially due to a massive egg recall issued in August of 2010.

There were 790 outbreaks where a laboratory confirmed that the cause was a single etiologic agent, and 42% of those were caused by norovirus.

Salmonella, the second most common cause of food poisoning incidents during those years, accounted for 30% of those cases. However, salmonella caused the most hospitalizations. Specifically, the CDC found that the food and pathogen combination linked to the most hospitalizations was salmonella in vine-stalk vegetables.

Other than eggs, the next most common causes of food poisoning illnesses were beef and poultry.

The number of egg-related food poisoning cases was likely inflated due to a salmonella outbreak linked to eggs from two egg farms in August 2010. Quality Egg LLC and the Wright County Egg facility recalled more than half a billion eggs nationwide. The CDC estimated that at least 1,519 people fell ill from salmonella poisoning from eggs, but the number was likely much higher since the most illnesses are never reported.

Despite the large number of outbreaks and illnesses, only 43 food poisoning outbreaks in 2009 and 2010 actually led to food product recalls. In the 766 outbreaks that could be tracked back to a known single setting where the food was eaten, 48% were tracked back to food served in a restaurant or deli, compared to only 21% of outbreaks linked to food consumed at home.

Image Credit: |

0 Comments

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Gardasil Lawsuits Over Failure To Warn Doctors About HPV Vaccine Risks Cleared To Move Forward
Gardasil Lawsuits Over Failure To Warn Doctors About HPV Vaccine Risks Cleared To Move Forward (Posted today)

A federal judge has cleared Gardasil lawsuits to move forward, after paring down plaintiffs' claims to those alleging Merck either failed to warn, or fraudulently concealed, the HPV vaccine's risks from the medical community.