Produce-associated foodborne disease outbreaks, USA, 1998-2013

Area of Science:

• Food safety science
• Epidemiology
• Public health

Background:

• The US Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) aims to enhance produce safety.
• Understanding raw produce outbreaks is crucial for assessing FSMA's impact.
• Surveillance data provides insights into foodborne illness trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in raw produce outbreaks before FSMA implementation.
• To identify common sources, pathogens, and contributing factors in these outbreaks.
• To inform future food safety strategies and regulations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (1998-2013).
• Examination of outbreak numbers, illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths attributed to raw produce.
• Identification of outbreak-associated produce types, etiologic agents, and food-handling errors.

Main Results:

• 972 raw produce outbreaks reported between 1998-2013, causing 34,674 illnesses, 2,315 hospitalizations, and 72 deaths.
• While total outbreaks decreased 38%, raw produce outbreaks decreased 19%.
• The proportion of outbreaks linked to raw produce increased from 8% (1998-2001) to 16% (2010-2013).
• Vegetable row crops (38%), fruits (35%), and seeded vegetables (11%) were common sources.
• Norovirus (54%), Salmonella enterica (21%), and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (10%) were primary pathogens.
• Food-handling errors contributed to 39% of outbreaks.

Conclusions:

• The increasing proportion of foodborne outbreaks linked to raw produce necessitates targeted interventions.
• Safety measures must address contamination risks from farm to preparation.
• Pre-FSMA trends indicate a growing challenge in ensuring raw produce safety.