Salmonella Cost Estimate Updated Using FoodNet Data

• DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.266212
• Publication Date: 1999-05-05
• Authors: Paul D. Frenzen; Tara Riggs; Jean C. Buzby; Thomas Breuer; Tanya Roberts; Drew Voetsch; S.C Venkata Subba...
• Keywords: Salmonella enteritidis; Economic cost

Salmonella infections due to contaminated food products make many people ill each year and are responsible for substantial economic costs. potentially serious may be fatal, particularly the elderly with weak immune systems (see box on infections). However, most salmonellosis cases do not result in a visit medical facility never reported public health agencies. The high proportion of unreported makes it difficult determine true incidence salmonellosis, has resulted wide range estimates annual costs foodborne infections. Many caused by undercooked shell eggs, which hens infected serotype Enteritidis, one common strains. Effective August 1999, Federal regulations will require that eggs packed retail sale consumers stored transported at or below 45 degrees Fahrenheit reduce risk USO A was unable definitive estimate potential benefits this rule, partly because uncertainty about USDA shares federal regulatory responsibility egg safety Food Drug Administration (FDA), recently proposed requiring safe handling labels cartons warn illness associated Salmonellacontaminated eggs. Previous USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) were based best available number expenses productivity losses. New information incidence, severity, consequences since become from Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) other sources, allowing us refine previous