Pathogen Index - Foodborne Illnesses & Diseases
- Campylobacter Enteritis
- Clostridium botulinum, botulism
- Cryptosporidium parvum
- Cyclospora cayetanensis
- E.Coli O157:H7, Escherichia Coli
- Giardia lamblia
- Hepatitis A
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Norovirus
- Salmonella
- Shigella, Shigellosis
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Vibrio Parahaemolyticus
- Vibrio vulnificus
- Yersinia Enterocolitica
>> View Complete Pathogen Index
Food Safety Education Works!
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foodborne illness declined measurably in the US from 1996-2001. Food safety education is accredited, among other factors, for this progress.
An estimated 76 million persons contract foodborne illnesses each year in the US. The CDC surveillance data focuses on the major foodborne illnesses. Last year, these illnesses were identified by laboratory diagnosis in 13,705 cases. Salmonella was the most common, implicated in about 5,200 cases. Campylobacter was responsible for 4,740 cases.
From 1996-2001, rates of infection declined for 6 of the major foodborne illnesses as follows:
- Yersinia enterocolitica - 49%
- Listeria monocytogenes - 35%
- Shigella - 35%
- Campylobacter - 27%
- E.coli 0157 - 21%
- Salmonella - 15%
CDC data further reflects that from 1997-2001, Cryptosporidium parvum cases decreased 33%, and Cyclospora cayetanensis cases declined by an unspecified percentage. Of the major food-borne illnesses, only Vibrio infections have increased - 83% since 1996.
In addition to food safety education and focused attention on disease prevention, factors responsible for this progress include improved practices across-the-board “from farm to table,” employing HACCP and other control measures. Health officials are optimistic that the food industry is on the right track, but they maintain it still has a long way to go. The report indicates a substantial and sustained decline in most foodborne illnesses, but not all, indicating that increased efforts are needed.
Please contact us for more information on
food safety education, including internationally accredited
certification programs.