FoodNet

Fast Facts about FoodNet Data

Since 1996, has been tracking trends in the most common infections transmitted through food. FoodNet reports on the number of people in the United States sickened with foodborne infections that have been confirmed by laboratory tests. FoodNet data lets CDC, its partners, and policy makers know how much progress has made in reaching national goals for reducing foodborne illness. Here are fast facts about FoodNet.

Quick Stats—Illness, people, and impact

FoodNet was one of the main sources of data used in the work that led in 2011 to publication of the new estimates of foodborne illness aquired in the United States. About 1 in 6 (or 48 million) people get sick each year from contaminated food, with 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths annually.

Graphic: Father holding hands with children FoodNet data indicate that children younger than 5 years old have higher incidence rates of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, Cryptosporidium, E.coli O157, E.coli non–O157, and Yersinia infection than any other age group.

Graphic: Older couple and dog FoodNet data indicate that adults 60 and older are at greater risk for hospitalization and death from infections that FoodNet tracks than are persons in other age groups.

Graphic: Hospital bed CDC estimates that Salmonella infection causes more hospitalizations and deaths than any other type of germ found in food.

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Pathogens Covered

FoodNet conducts surveillance for the following infections diagnosed by laboratory testing of samples from patients.

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Surveillance Area and Sites

FoodNet personnel located at state health departments regularly contact the clinical laboratories in Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, and selected counties in California, Colorado, and New York
to get reports of infections diagnosed in residents of these areas. The surveillance area includes 15% of the United States population.

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