The number of outbreaks caused by foodborne illnesses has risen sharply across the United States recently. Why? Are there suddenly more types of pathogens than ever before? Or are employees not being trained properly when it comes to food safety?
While we can’t do anything about the former, even if it was true, we do know a thing or two about food safety training. The more you know about food safety risks, consequences and statistics, the higher your likelihood of promoting food safety at your establishment.
Let’s go over some statistics to keep in mind as you focus on improving the food safety practices where you work.
31 Known Pathogens Cause Foodborne Illnesses
The CDC provides estimates for two major groups of foodborne illnesses: known foodborne pathogens and unspecified agents. The former are tracked by public health systems, while the latter have insufficient data.
48 Million People Get Sick from Foodborne Illnesses Each Year
The CDC estimates that 48 million people get sick each year in the United States due to foodborne diseases. Of these, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die. This illustrates the importance of targeting better prevention measures.
58 Percent of Foodborne Illnesses are Caused by Norovirus
Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States and its most common symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. It’s so prevalent that the CDC has its own dedicated page to norovirus, especially since outbreaks have risen in recent years.
35 Percent of Cases Requiring Hospitalization are Caused by Salmonella
While norovirus is the most common, salmonella is the pathogen that sends the most people to the hospital. It’s also one of the most well-known pathogens to the general public. The CDC estimates that salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 2,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the U.S. every year.
1 in 10 People Fall Ill After Eating Contaminated Food Worldwide
Worldwide, unsafe food causes 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Among those, almost a third occur among children under five years of age. WHO estimates that 33 million years of healthy lives are lost due to eating unsafe food globally each year.
These are just a few of the most eye-opening statistics related to foodborne illnesses that you should know. That’s why proper food safety knowledge is paramount if you’re in a role that involves the handling of food. Whether it’s required for you or not, consider enrolling for a food handler certification with American Course Academy today.
