The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) estimates the cost of medical care for diseases caused by foodborne pathogens, and the subsequent productivity losses, at US$6.9bn per year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided updated case, hospitalisation and death estimates for the foodborne pathogens shown in the following table:

Estimated annual costs due to selected foodborne pathogens, 2000

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Estimated annual foodborne illnesses



















































Pathogen
Cases
Hospitalisation number
Deaths
Costs
Bacteria



Billion 2000 dollars
Campylobacter spp
1,963,141
10,539
99
1.2
Salmonella
1,341,873
15,609
553
2.4
E.coli 0157:H7
62,458
1,843
52
0.7
E.coli non-0157 STEC
31,229
921
26
0.3
Listeria monocytogenes
2,493
2,299
499
2.3
Total
3,513,694
33,711
1,604
6.9

Source: Economic Research Service, January 19, ?2001


ERS has revised its methodology to take account of age in valuing premature deaths. “Under the age-adjusted approach, the assumed cost of each death ranges from US$8.9m for children who die before their first birthday to US$1.7m for individuals who die at age 85 or older,” according to the ERS.

By Aaron Priel, just-food.com correspondent

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