Attribution of U.S. foodborne illnesses to commodities (1998–2008)
Foodborne illnesses represent a significant public health challenge in the United States, with over 9 million cases attributed to major pathogens each year. Effective prevention of these illnesses is complicated by the limited ability to link specific food items to individual cases and illnesses. To address this challenge, a method was developed to attribute foodborne illnesses to various food commodities based on data from outbreaks occurring between 1998 and 2008. A new study aims to estimate the annual instances of foodborne illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with 17 distinct food commodities, thereby providing valuable insights for prioritizing food safety initiatives. Researchers identified that a significant 46% of foodborne illnesses were attributed to produce, with poultry accounting for the highest number of deaths. A total of 13,352 foodborne outbreaks were reported during the study, leading to the estimation of 9,638,301 illnesses, 57,462 hospitalizations, and 1,451 deaths caused by known pathogens.
Poultry was attributed to approximately 900,000 illnesses (10% of total) and represented 29% of all estimated deaths attributed to foodborne illnesses. Among the deaths associated with poultry, the majority were linked to pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes (63%) and Salmonella spp. (26%). In terms of hospitalizations, poultry accounted for a notable percentage as well, suggesting that it represents a critical area of concern for food safety initiatives.
