Health Law

10 Foods With Highest Risk of Food Poisoning

By David Babcock

A list was recently compiled of the 10 foods, under the regulation of the FDA, most often associated with food poisoning.  The FDA does not have jurisdiction over poultry or beef, so those foods are excluded from possible exclusion.   The list is based on data compiled over the past 20 years - 1990 to present.  The foods:

1. LEAFY GREENS: 363 outbreaks involving 13,568 reported cases of illness. in 2006, bagged spinach was associated with a nationwide outbreak of E. coli O157:H7.  More recently, leafy greens have been recalled for both E. coli and Salmonella concerns.  

2. EGGS: 352 outbreaks involving 11,163 reported cases of illness. Marler Clark is currently litigating claims on behalf of individuals sickened in the recent Salmonella outbreak linked to Wright County Egg.  The outbreak led to Congressional hearings, as serious questions were raised about conditions at the egg production facility.

3. TUNA: 268 outbreaks involving 2341 reported cases of illness. 

4. OYSTERS: 132 outbreaks involving 3409 reported cases of illness. 

5. POTATOES: 108 outbreaks involving 3659 reported cases of illness. Potatoes, often in the form of potato salad, were linked to 108 outbreaks, with more 3600 consumers reported to have been sickened by spuds since 1990.

6. CHEESE: 83 outbreaks involving 2761 reported cases of illness. Cheese products were linked to 83 outbreaks that sickened thousands of consumers since 1990, making it number six of the FDA Top Ten. Salmonella was the most common hazard among cheese products.

7. ICE CREAM: 74 outbreaks involving 2594 reported cases of illness.

8. TOMATOES: 31 outbreaks involving 3292 reported cases of illness.    

9. SPROUTS: 31 outbreaks involving 2022 reported cases of illness.   Marler Clark represents a number of individuals making claims arising out of a 2009 Salmonella outbreak tied to sprouts.  At least 121 person were sickened in the outbreak. 

10. BERRIES: 25 outbreaks involving 3397 reported cases of illness.

Certainly not David Letterman quality, but an interesting list nevertheless.

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on September 30, 2010 (boomark / email).