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See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 26 Fotos
Deaths and hospitalizations - The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that there are 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths worldwide annually.
© Getty Images
1 / 26 Fotos
Illnesses - One in six Americans die every year from foodborne illnesses.
© Getty Images
2 / 26 Fotos
How do they start?
- Outbreaks happen when foods carry dangerous germs or toxins, such as salmonella, the bacteria that causes the the most hospitalizations. The symptoms associated with salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, and they usually appear 12 to 72 hours after infection. If treated, those affected by it recover within a week.
© Getty Images
3 / 26 Fotos
PCA peanut butter (2009) - In 2009, 714 people fell ill and nine died from a salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter produced by the Peanut Corporation of America. The now-bankrupted company had to recall 3,600 peanut butter products.
© Getty Images
4 / 26 Fotos
Cargill ground turkey (2011) - In 2011, Cargill, Incorporated had to recall 36 million lbs of ground turkey after one person died, and another 136 became ill across the 34 states of the US that were suspected of having been infected by an antibiotic-resistant strain of salmonella associated with the company's product.
© Getty Images
5 / 26 Fotos
Foster Farms chicken (2013) - The California producer issued a voluntary recall after its chicken products became suspected of infecting 634 people with Salmonella across 29 states and Puerto Rico. No deaths were reported.
© Getty Images
6 / 26 Fotos
Mexican cucumbers (2015) - Cucumber imported from Mexico was suspected of infecting 907 people in 40 states, resulting in six deaths and about 200 hospitalizations.
© Getty Images
7 / 26 Fotos
E. coli outbreaks - Escherichia coli is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of people and animals, but infections by certain strains can cause people to become ill. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloody stool, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever. What causes people to get sick is actually a toxin produced by the bacteria, so antibiotics are ineffective in treating the infection.
© Getty Images
8 / 26 Fotos
Jack in the Box hamburgers (1993) - Contaminated hamburger meat is suspected to have killed four people in California and Washington, along with causing hundreds of hospitalizations. The fast-food chain almost closed because of the generalized panic that ensued. The outbreak prompted the government to tighten regulations associated with food handling.
© iStock
9 / 26 Fotos
Dole baby spinach (2006) - The FDA linked E. coli infections to uncooked spinach in 26 states in September. During the outbreak, three people died, while 31 others suffered kidney failure and 205 reported having diarrhea and dehydration. Dole recalled its bagged baby spinach products. The contamination could have originated in a cattle ranch that leased land to a spinach farmer.
© Getty Images
10 / 26 Fotos
Taco Bell fast food (2006) - That same year, another E. coli outbreak that affected more than 70 people was associated with the fast-food chain. The infection led to more than 50 hospitalizations, 31 of which involved kidney failure. The outbreak is believed to have been due to contaminated lettuce from California. The outbreak led to a stronger regulation of lettuce.
© Getty Images
11 / 26 Fotos
Chipotle Mexican Grill fast food (2015) - The popular fast-food chain experienced an E. coli outbreak between October and November, which resulted in 22 hospitalizations and no deaths. No cause for the outbreak has been confirmed.
© Getty Images
12 / 26 Fotos
Ready-to-eat foods (2018) - In 2018, several food manufacturers have recalled products from various supermarkets, including Walmart, Trader Joe's, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Whole Foods, and 7-Eleven. The tainted ingredients were thought to have stemmed from McCain Foods, and may contained contamination from listeria and salmonella bacteria.
© Shutterstock
13 / 26 Fotos
Romaine lettuce (2018) - The outbreak started in March 2018. It killed a person in California, caused numerous hospitalizations, and expanded to 25 states. Authorities linked the outbreak to romaine lettuce produced in the Yuma region of Arizona, which is responsible for most romaine lettuce produced in the country during the winter months.
© iStock
14 / 26 Fotos
Botulism outbreaks
- This illness is caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing or speaking, blurry vision, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
© Shutterstock
15 / 26 Fotos
Trini & Carmen’s hot sauce (1977) - This outbreak started in Pontiac, MI, after customers of Trini and Carmen's Restaurant began reporting symptoms of food poisoning in March. Investigators linked the outbreak to the restaurant's hot sauce made from home-canned jalapeño peppers. The restaurant was closed within days. No deaths were reported and 58 people became ill.
© iStock
16 / 26 Fotos
Home-canned potatoes (2015) - The worst outbreak of botulism in recent US history took place in Fairfield County, OH, when one person died from respiratory failure and 29 others got sick. The outbreak was linked to improperly home-canned potatoes that were used in a potato salad made for a church potluck picnic.
© iStock
17 / 26 Fotos
Listeria outbreaks
- Listeria infection is particularly worrisome for pregnant women, as they are 10 times more likely to contract it. Symptoms include headaches, confusion, loss of balance, seizures, fatigue, muscle aches, and fever.
© Getty Images
18 / 26 Fotos
Jalisco Products cheese (1985) - The listeria outbreak lasted for seven months and killed 10 newborns and 18 adults, affecting a total of 42 in Los Angeles country. 20 women also miscarried after contracting the infection.
© iStock
19 / 26 Fotos
Hot dogs (1998-1999) - Contaminated hot dogs caused 100 people across 24 states to become ill, causing 14 adult deaths and four women to miscarry. The contamination started at Bil Mar Foods’ manufacturing plant in Zeeland, MI, and affected at least nine brands, including Sara Lee Deli Meat.
© Shutterstock
20 / 26 Fotos
Pilgrim’s Pride turkey meat (2002) - The brand's sliced deli meat was deemed the cause of this outbreak that killed seven adults and caused three stillbirths across Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Michigan. The company had to recall more than 27 million lbs of the product.
© Getty Images
21 / 26 Fotos
Cantaloupes (2011) - Authorities attributed 33 deaths to tainted cantaloupes, which investigators said started at Jensen Farms’ packing facility near Holly, CO. A total of 147 people became infected during the outbreak.
© Getty Images
22 / 26 Fotos
Hepatitis A from food contamination
- Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Its spread occurs primarily when food and/or water becomes contaminated with feces from an infected person. Symptoms of the illness includes fever, jaundice, dark urine, abdominal pain, joint pain, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
© Shutterstock
23 / 26 Fotos
Frozen strawberries (1997) - An outbreak in Calhoun County, MI, caused 153 people to become infected. The tainted fruit was used in a federal school lunch program and distributed across six states.
© Getty Images
24 / 26 Fotos
Chi-Chi’s salsa and chili con queso (2003)
- The outbreak, which killed three people and affected 555 total, was traced to green onions imported from Mexico and used to make salsa and chili con queso at Chi-Chi’s restaurant in Monaca, PA. See also: What happens to your body if you eat eggs every day?
© Shutterstock
25 / 26 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 26 Fotos
Deaths and hospitalizations - The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that there are 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths worldwide annually.
© Getty Images
1 / 26 Fotos
Illnesses - One in six Americans die every year from foodborne illnesses.
© Getty Images
2 / 26 Fotos
How do they start?
- Outbreaks happen when foods carry dangerous germs or toxins, such as salmonella, the bacteria that causes the the most hospitalizations. The symptoms associated with salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, and they usually appear 12 to 72 hours after infection. If treated, those affected by it recover within a week.
© Getty Images
3 / 26 Fotos
PCA peanut butter (2009) - In 2009, 714 people fell ill and nine died from a salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter produced by the Peanut Corporation of America. The now-bankrupted company had to recall 3,600 peanut butter products.
© Getty Images
4 / 26 Fotos
Cargill ground turkey (2011) - In 2011, Cargill, Incorporated had to recall 36 million lbs of ground turkey after one person died, and another 136 became ill across the 34 states of the US that were suspected of having been infected by an antibiotic-resistant strain of salmonella associated with the company's product.
© Getty Images
5 / 26 Fotos
Foster Farms chicken (2013) - The California producer issued a voluntary recall after its chicken products became suspected of infecting 634 people with Salmonella across 29 states and Puerto Rico. No deaths were reported.
© Getty Images
6 / 26 Fotos
Mexican cucumbers (2015) - Cucumber imported from Mexico was suspected of infecting 907 people in 40 states, resulting in six deaths and about 200 hospitalizations.
© Getty Images
7 / 26 Fotos
E. coli outbreaks - Escherichia coli is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of people and animals, but infections by certain strains can cause people to become ill. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloody stool, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever. What causes people to get sick is actually a toxin produced by the bacteria, so antibiotics are ineffective in treating the infection.
© Getty Images
8 / 26 Fotos
Jack in the Box hamburgers (1993) - Contaminated hamburger meat is suspected to have killed four people in California and Washington, along with causing hundreds of hospitalizations. The fast-food chain almost closed because of the generalized panic that ensued. The outbreak prompted the government to tighten regulations associated with food handling.
© iStock
9 / 26 Fotos
Dole baby spinach (2006) - The FDA linked E. coli infections to uncooked spinach in 26 states in September. During the outbreak, three people died, while 31 others suffered kidney failure and 205 reported having diarrhea and dehydration. Dole recalled its bagged baby spinach products. The contamination could have originated in a cattle ranch that leased land to a spinach farmer.
© Getty Images
10 / 26 Fotos
Taco Bell fast food (2006) - That same year, another E. coli outbreak that affected more than 70 people was associated with the fast-food chain. The infection led to more than 50 hospitalizations, 31 of which involved kidney failure. The outbreak is believed to have been due to contaminated lettuce from California. The outbreak led to a stronger regulation of lettuce.
© Getty Images
11 / 26 Fotos
Chipotle Mexican Grill fast food (2015) - The popular fast-food chain experienced an E. coli outbreak between October and November, which resulted in 22 hospitalizations and no deaths. No cause for the outbreak has been confirmed.
© Getty Images
12 / 26 Fotos
Ready-to-eat foods (2018) - In 2018, several food manufacturers have recalled products from various supermarkets, including Walmart, Trader Joe's, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Whole Foods, and 7-Eleven. The tainted ingredients were thought to have stemmed from McCain Foods, and may contained contamination from listeria and salmonella bacteria.
© Shutterstock
13 / 26 Fotos
Romaine lettuce (2018) - The outbreak started in March 2018. It killed a person in California, caused numerous hospitalizations, and expanded to 25 states. Authorities linked the outbreak to romaine lettuce produced in the Yuma region of Arizona, which is responsible for most romaine lettuce produced in the country during the winter months.
© iStock
14 / 26 Fotos
Botulism outbreaks
- This illness is caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing or speaking, blurry vision, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, and paralysis.
© Shutterstock
15 / 26 Fotos
Trini & Carmen’s hot sauce (1977) - This outbreak started in Pontiac, MI, after customers of Trini and Carmen's Restaurant began reporting symptoms of food poisoning in March. Investigators linked the outbreak to the restaurant's hot sauce made from home-canned jalapeño peppers. The restaurant was closed within days. No deaths were reported and 58 people became ill.
© iStock
16 / 26 Fotos
Home-canned potatoes (2015) - The worst outbreak of botulism in recent US history took place in Fairfield County, OH, when one person died from respiratory failure and 29 others got sick. The outbreak was linked to improperly home-canned potatoes that were used in a potato salad made for a church potluck picnic.
© iStock
17 / 26 Fotos
Listeria outbreaks
- Listeria infection is particularly worrisome for pregnant women, as they are 10 times more likely to contract it. Symptoms include headaches, confusion, loss of balance, seizures, fatigue, muscle aches, and fever.
© Getty Images
18 / 26 Fotos
Jalisco Products cheese (1985) - The listeria outbreak lasted for seven months and killed 10 newborns and 18 adults, affecting a total of 42 in Los Angeles country. 20 women also miscarried after contracting the infection.
© iStock
19 / 26 Fotos
Hot dogs (1998-1999) - Contaminated hot dogs caused 100 people across 24 states to become ill, causing 14 adult deaths and four women to miscarry. The contamination started at Bil Mar Foods’ manufacturing plant in Zeeland, MI, and affected at least nine brands, including Sara Lee Deli Meat.
© Shutterstock
20 / 26 Fotos
Pilgrim’s Pride turkey meat (2002) - The brand's sliced deli meat was deemed the cause of this outbreak that killed seven adults and caused three stillbirths across Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Michigan. The company had to recall more than 27 million lbs of the product.
© Getty Images
21 / 26 Fotos
Cantaloupes (2011) - Authorities attributed 33 deaths to tainted cantaloupes, which investigators said started at Jensen Farms’ packing facility near Holly, CO. A total of 147 people became infected during the outbreak.
© Getty Images
22 / 26 Fotos
Hepatitis A from food contamination
- Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Its spread occurs primarily when food and/or water becomes contaminated with feces from an infected person. Symptoms of the illness includes fever, jaundice, dark urine, abdominal pain, joint pain, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
© Shutterstock
23 / 26 Fotos
Frozen strawberries (1997) - An outbreak in Calhoun County, MI, caused 153 people to become infected. The tainted fruit was used in a federal school lunch program and distributed across six states.
© Getty Images
24 / 26 Fotos
Chi-Chi’s salsa and chili con queso (2003)
- The outbreak, which killed three people and affected 555 total, was traced to green onions imported from Mexico and used to make salsa and chili con queso at Chi-Chi’s restaurant in Monaca, PA. See also: What happens to your body if you eat eggs every day?
© Shutterstock
25 / 26 Fotos
Food recalls: cases of contamination with deadly consequences
Food recalls that involve grab-and-go food items
© Getty Images
In America's recent history, at least 17 foods have been tied to serious illnesses and even deaths, often due to contamination with harmful bacteria, viruses, or toxins. From contaminated produce to unsafe meat and dairy products, these incidents have raised awareness about food safety and led to nationwide recalls. While some outbreaks have been swiftly contained, others have had devastating impacts, reminding us of the importance of vigilance in food production and handling.
Click through to discover the most dangerous foods that have caused tragic consequences.
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