Massive Increase in USA Food Poisoning Since 1994

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According to a report published at the end of 1999 [3], foodborne
diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325 000
hospitalisations and 5 000 deaths in the United States each year.
Known foodborne pathogens account for 14 million of the illnesses, 60
000 hospitalisations and 1 800 deaths. In other words, unknown agents
account for approximately 81% of food borne illnesses and
hospitalisations and 64% of deaths. Three pathogens, Salmonella,
Listeria and Toxoplasma kill 1500 each year, more than 75% of those
killed by known pathogens, while Campylobacter, Salmonella and
Shigella top the list in known causes of foodborne illnesses.

To see foodborne illnesses in perspective, total illnesses from known
pathogens are estimated at 38.6 million, and that includes 5.2 million
(13%) due to bacteria, 2.5 million (7%) due to parasites and 30.9
million (80%) due to viruses. The breakdown for foodborne illnesses in
terms of known etiological agents is similar, with the highest
proportion due to viruses.

The figures on foodborne illnesses are more than double those produced
in 1994 [4], which were between 6.5 to 33 million illnesses per year.
In terms of incidence, the increase is from 25 to 130 cases per 1 000
inhabitants in 1994 to 278 per 1 000 in 1999. Is the huge increase
over the past five years real? Or is it simply a case of improved
surveillance and reporting.

For comparison, a Swedish study was undertaken in the Municipality of
Uppsala of 186 000 inhabitants, based on enhanced surveillance and
retrospective interviews in 1998-1999 [5]. A total of 268 incidents
were recorded, and 515 cases documented. This gives an incidence of 28
illnesses per thousand, which falls within the low end of the US
estimate in1994. But that means the incidence of foodborne diseases in
the US in 1999 is nearly ten times that of Sweden, as well as up to
ten times higher than in 1994.

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