Eating is Risky Business

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a nonprofit watchdog group, issued a warning on food items that it considered the riskiest.  At the top of the list of 10 riskiest food items are leafy greens, eggs, and tuna.

CSPI rated the above food items based on the number of outbreaks associated with them since 1990 and also provided the number of recorded illnesses and other data.  CSPI has been tracking data since 1990 from various sources including CDC - The Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Here is an excerpt from the report
LEAFY GREENS: 363 outbreaks involving 13,568 reported cases of illness
EGGS: 352 outbreaks involving 11,163 reported cases of illness
TUNA: 268 outbreaks involving 2341 reported cases of illness
OYSTERS: 132 outbreaks involving 3409 reported cases of illness
POTATOES: 108 outbreaks involving 3659 reported cases of illness
CHEESE: 83 outbreaks involving 2761 reported cases of illness
ICE CREAM: 74 outbreaks involving 2594 reported cases of illness
TOMATOES: 31 outbreaks involving 3292 reported cases of illness
SPROUTS: 31 outbreaks involving 2022 reported cases of illness
BERRIES: 25 outbreaks involving 3397 reported cases of illness

The full report is available from the CSPI website and is linked here

Luckily for vegetarians and vegans, half the items in the above list are non factors :-)  It is vital to check the packaging of food items for expiry dates, open containers or bags, and proper refrigeration and temperature. Just because a report came out does not mean we have to stop eating salads!  Eggs, Tuna, Oysters - No thanks!!  Never have and never will :-)

Incidentally, all these food items are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Food Producers, Fisherman's Associations, and Milk Producers have criticized the report.