A new report tracking foodborne illnesses across 10 U.S. sites reveals a concerning shift: infections from common foodborne pathogens were higher in 2022 compared to the years just before the pandemic. The data comes from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, which monitors trends in illnesses caused by germs like Salmonella and E. coli that are often spread through food. The report doesn't tell us how many more people got sick, what specific germs were involved, or why the numbers went up. It also doesn't cover the whole country. What it does show is a clear signal that, after a period of lower reported illness, the trend has reversed. This isn't about a single outbreak, but a broader pattern that suggests our collective guard on food safety might need strengthening.
Foodborne infection incidences higher in 2022 compared to 2016-2018 baselineAre foodborne infections rising? New data shows a concerning trend
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A surveillance report from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) across 10 U.S. sites compared the incidence of infections caused by pathogens transmitted commonly through food in 2022 to a 2016-2018 baseline period. The report found incidences of certain infections were higher in 2022 compared to that baseline. The specific pathogens, absolute case numbers, effect sizes, and statistical confidence intervals were not reported.
No safety or tolerability data for specific interventions were included, as this was a population-level surveillance report tracking disease incidence. The report did not detail adverse events or discontinuations related to any treatment.
Key limitations include the lack of reported data on the specific pathogens involved, the magnitude of the increase, the populations affected, and the statistical significance of the observed trend. The funding sources and potential conflicts of interest were also not reported.
For clinical practice, this report provides a high-level, non-specific signal that certain foodborne infection trends warrant attention. It underscores the ongoing relevance of food safety education and diagnostic suspicion for foodborne illness, but does not offer specific guidance on pathogen management or prevention strategies due to the limited detail provided.
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