A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that food poisoning cases have decreased slightly since pre-pandemic years. However, food safety experts aren’t celebrating the decrease, blaming it on the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions.
Thomas Gremillion, director of food policy, said, “There’s not enough evidence to give a ringing endorsement to the food industry.” Lead author Dr. Jennifer Collins, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC, explained that the overall drop was primarily due to a decline in salmonella infections.
14.2 salmonella infections per 100,000 population in 2021 attributed to poultry and produce. There were 17.8 cases per 100,000 of campylobacter commonly associated with chicken products.
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Salmonella infections decreased in 2021, but other pathogen infections increased or remained the same compared to 2016-2018. A steady number of cases of campylobacter, listeria, and shigella were reported, while significant increases in cases of cyclospora, vibrio, and yersinia.
Gremillion said, “We know how to reduce the burden of foodborne illnesses; we know the policies we need to apply, but we haven’t done so yet. If we had the policies that we needed.”
Dr. Christine Lee, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic, said food poisoning usually causes mild symptoms like cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Generally, patients who receive supportive therapy recover within a few weeks.
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It can be life-threatening for those who are immunocompromised. If symptoms worsen, including dizziness, bloody diarrhea, and inability to tolerate food and fluids, seek medical attention.
Consumers can reduce their risk of food poisoning by washing produce and cooking meat thoroughly. Still, food safety experts say industry leaders and regulatory officials can make the most significant difference.
Collins said, “Prevention efforts need to be improved to address the root cause of foodborne illness, which includes contamination on farms and processing facilities, to have food be as safe as possible for consumers.”