Top 10 Riskiest FDA-Regulated Foods

Filed in archive Nutrition on October 15, 2009

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Every so often we hear of outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, the more recent that comes to mind are those of the spinach and peanut butter recalls. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nutrition advocacy group lists down the top 10 riskiest foods based on the number of outbreaks associated with them since 1990, as well as the number of recorded illnesses.

In descending order, the most risky in terms of outbreaks:
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

Download here (pdf file) for the full report, and CSPI's motion urging the Senate to pass the Foood Safety Modernization Act.