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Food Safety
The Costs of Foodborne Illness
Foodborne illness costs the U.S. economy
billions of dollars each year in lost
productivity,
hospitalization, long-term disability
and
even death as these statistics reveal:
- USDA's Economic Research Service estimates
that medical costs and losses in productivity
resulting from seven major foodborne pathogens
in 1993 ranged from $5.6 billion to $9.4
billion. Of these costs, $2.3 billion to
$4.3 billion represent medical costs, and
$3.3 billion to $5.1 billion were the productivity
losses.
- Of the seven pathogens analyzed by USDA,
Salmonella and Toxoplasma gondii are the
two most costly, largely because of the high
number of Salmonella cases annually and because
of the severity of the chronic illness caused
by Toxoplasma gondii. Salmonellosis infections
in 1993 were responsible for an estimated
$600 million to $3.5 billion in medical costs
and lost productivity. At the same time,
toxoplasmosis costs an estimated $2.7 billion
annually.
If you have questions or concerns about food
safety, contact:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Meat and Poultry Hotline at (800) 535-4555
or (202) 720-3333 (Washington, DC area).
The TTY number for the hearing impaired
is
(800) 256-7072.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Information Line at (888) SAFE FOOD.
Reprinted with permission from
The Fight BAC!™ Web site at: www.fightbac.org
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