Report Lists Riskiest Foods

WASHINGTON—Leafy greens, eggs, and tuna are on the top of a list of the 10 riskiest foods regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to a report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), these and seven other foods account for nearly 40 percent of all foodborne outbreaks linked to FDA-regulated food since 1990. The report states that it uses data tracked by the CSPI, CDC and elsewhere.

With almost 50,000 illnesses reported, ranging from temporary gastrointestinal distress to long-term disability and death and more than 1,500 separate, definable outbreaks linked to the group, the report lists the FDA Top Ten as being:

1. Leafy greens: 363 outbreaks involving 13,568 reported cases of illness
2. Eggs: 352 outbreaks involving 11,163 reported cases of illness
3. Tuna: 268 outbreaks involving 2341 reported cases of illness
4. Oysters: 132 outbreaks involving 3409 reported cases of illness
5. Potatoes: 108 outbreaks involving 3659 reported cases of illness
6. Cheese: 83 outbreaks involving 2761 reported cases of illness
7. Ice cream: 74 outbreaks involving 2594 reported cases of illness
8. Tomatoes: 31 outbreaks involving 3292 reported cases of illness
9. Sprouts: 31 outbreaks involving 2022 reported cases of illness
10. Berries: 25 outbreaks involving 3397 reported cases of illness

The report notes that pathogens most commonly associated with meat and poultry—such as Salmonella2 and E. coli O157:H73—have been repeatedly linked to these food items. Other pathogens causing associated outbreaks  include Campylobacter, Scombrotoxin, Norovirus, and Vibrio.

The full report is available at CSPI.