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What are the worst foodborne illness outbreaks in US history?
WTAE • • business
Key Points:
- The 2026 cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Fresh Farms has caused over 9,400 confirmed cases across 17 states, making it the largest cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history.
- Foodborne illnesses affect about one in six Americans annually, with norovirus, campylobacter, and salmonella being the most common pathogens.
- The worst recorded foodborne illness outbreak in the U.S. was a 1994 salmonella outbreak in ice cream from a Minnesota factory, infecting approximately 224,000 people due to contaminated tanker trailers.
- Despite the severity of recent outbreaks, the true scale of foodborne illnesses remains uncertain since only a small fraction of cases are diagnosed and reported to public health authorities, according to a 2025 U.S. Government Accountability Office report.
