CDC Says Food Poisoning From Poultry is a Real Problem

According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. deals with 76 million cases of foodborne illness annually.

Their report shows that Norovirus was the most commonly found foodborne agent (39%), followed by Salmonella (27%). Norovirus can be passed when tainted food handlers don’t wash their hands correctly after using the washroom. Salmonella is the name for over 2,500 kinds of bacteria. Salmonella contamination is known to cause disease in humans, animals, and birds (particularly poultry) globally.

Approximately 1,100 outbreaks affecting 21,244 individual illnesses were reported by the information, provided by public health labs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Poultry remains the leading culprit in food poisoning outbreaks, with chicken, turkey and other poultry accounting for 17 percent of the outbreaks reported to the government, followed by beef and Leafy vegetables.

Annually, the CDC approximates that as many as 87 Million cases of food poisoning may have took place in the U.S. Approximately 371,000 are cared for in hospitals and 5,700 individuals die.