According to the FDA, September is National Food Safety Education Month!

This month take an active role in preventing foodborne illness, also known as “food poisoning.” The Federal government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually – that’s about 1 in 6 Americans each year. Each year, these illnesses result in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.

Well, the work that State and Local Health Departments, the CDC and FDA have done over the last months, underscores why we need a month to think about what we need to do to prevent these outbreaks.

Cyclospora – Fresh Express Salad

As of August 26, 2020, 1,102 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in people who had no history of international travel during the 14-day period before illness onset have been reported to CDC by 35 jurisdictions, including 34 states and New York City, since May 1, 2020.

As of August 12, 2020, a total of 690 people with laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections associated with this outbreak have been reported from 13 states: Georgia (1), Illinois (209), Iowa (206), Kansas (5), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (86), Missouri (57) Nebraska (55), North Dakota (6), Ohio (4), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (13), and Wisconsin (45). The ill person from Georgia purchased and ate a bagged salad product while traveling in Missouri.

In Canada, as of July 8, 2020, there are 37 confirmed cases of Cyclospora illness linked to this outbreak in three provinces: Ontario (26), Quebec (10) and Newfoundland and Labrador (1). Individuals became sick between mid-May and mid-June 2020. One individual has been hospitalized.

Salmonella – Thomson International, Inc. Onions

As of August 31, 2020, a total of 1,012 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Newport have been reported from 47 states.

As of August 31, 2020, there have been 457 confirmed cases of Salmonella Newport illness linked to this outbreak in the following provinces: British Columbia (107), Alberta (257), Saskatchewan (33), Manitoba (25), Ontario (11), Quebec (23) and Prince Edward Island (1).

Salmonella – Wawona Peaches

As of September 2, 2020, there have been 48 confirmed case of Salmonella Enteritidis illness linked to this outbreak in two provinces: Ontario (32) and Quebec (16).

As of August 27, 2020, a total of 78 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from 12 states: Connecticut (1), Iowa (8), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (17), Minnesota, (23), Missouri (1), New Jersey (7), New York (9), Pennsylvania (2), Virginia (3) and Wisconsin (5).

We have some work to do.