Foodborne illnesses retain same level they had 3 years ago

According to the CDC's Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, foodborne illness retains the same level in the U.S. it had in 2004, thus throwing back all the plans concerning the overall reduction of foodborne infections by 2010.

Photo: Foodborne illnesses retain same level they had 3 years ago

Foodborne illnesses retain same level they had 3 years ago

Starting from 1996 the number foodborne diseases has been slightly reduced, but all the changes happened before 2004. Since that the cases have increased and for now remain at the same level.

The 2007 outbreaks can be characterized by poisonings largely linked with peanut butter and frozen pot pies. The 2006 cases were largely caused by spinach and shredded lettuce.

The number of E. coli infections is a bit lower than it was in 2004, 2005 and 2006, but the difference is insignificant. The same thing is with campylobacter, listeria, shigella, vibrio, and yersinia.

In addition, researchers found out that high rates of infections are seen among children under 5 years. It was discovered that among the risk factors are riding in a shopping cart next to raw meat or poultry, going to a day-care center, visiting or living on a farm, and having a pet turtle or other reptile.

Major pathogens from food borne illness in the United States cost upwards of US $35 billion dollars in medical costs and lost productivity.

Photo: pump.tuthill.com