Food Sources Linked to Food Borne Illnesses in New CDC Report

A new report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce and kale caused the most number of food-borne illnesses in the United States between the years 1998 and 2008. According to the Jan. 29 CDC report, contaminated dairy resulted in the most hospitalizations and poultry that was tainted with bacteria such as E. coli or Salmonella accounted for the most food poisoning deaths.

The CDC study examined 4,887 outbreaks that resulted in 128,269 illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths when the food that caused them was known or suspected. The study appeared in the journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases. Researchers at the CDC found that leafy greens accounted for 23 percent of the illnesses and dairy products, 14 percent.

But, when they looked at hospitalizations due to food-borne illnesses, dairy products accounted for 16 percent. When it came to food poisoning deaths, poultry accounted for 19 percent and dairy 10 percent, the report stated. Over the decade that was studied, 277 people died from food-borne illnesses linked to poultry and 140 from illnesses connected to dairy products.

"I'm encouraged to see the CDC compile a more comprehensive report to track illnesses related to food-borne contamination. These numbers can be critical to studying food poisoning trends and categories of high-risk food products," said John Bisnar, founder of the Bisnar Chase personal injury law firm. "Hopefully, these numbers will equip government agencies and the food industry with the information they need to make what we put in our mouths safer. This new study has made it easier to identify the categories of food products that are causing the most illnesses."

Food producers have a legal and moral obligation to ensure that they are following all safety standards, Bisnar said. "As consumers, we rely heavily on these corporations to provide us with safe food. When the system fails, the consequences can be devastating for millions of Americans, which this newly released CDC study clearly shows."

About Bisnar Chase

The California personal injury lawyers of Bisnar Chase represent victims who have been sickened by contaminated food. The firm has been featured on a number of popular media outlets including Newsweek, Fox, NBC, and ABC and is known for its passionate pursuit of results for their clients. Since 1978, Bisnar Chase has recovered millions of dollars for seriously injured victims and their families.

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Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/attribution-1998-2008.html http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/a0129_foodborne_illnesses.html http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/