Spike in foodborne outbreaks highlights need for improvements

Approximately one in six people are infected with a foodborne illness each year in the United States, according to the CDC. The costs of foodborne illness are vast; Salmonella alone has accounted for $365 million in direct medical costs. Recent outbreaks this year have highlighted the need for improvements in the system — outbreak reporting and diagnosing illness in patients must improve. However, in some instances, positive outcomes have been demonstrated. The quick response time in the Listeria outbreak led to the swift identification of the food vector, which was promptly removed from the market.