Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Food Safety,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on June 25, 2026
Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report shed light on 2024 multistate outbreaks involving foodborne illness. While food safety and hygiene have improved over the course of history, this data shows that foodborne germs are still common and we must continue to be vigilant to keep our food safe.
What germs were identified in 2024 multistate outbreaks? What were the most common sources of these outbreaks? How can you protect yourself from foodborne illness?
Here’s what we know so far about the CDC 2024 multistate outbreaks report!
The CDC 2024 Multistate outbreak report provides a lot of great information. What germs are making the country sick and where did they come from. But this isn’t an all-encompassing list of foodborne illness in the country.
The scope of this report applies only to multistate outbreaks. It excludes outbreaks occurring within a single state. The report also excludes illnesses associated with international travel.
I suspect that the intent of this report is to get a pulse on the national food supply and illnesses across the country. An isolated event generally impacts a smaller group. Whereas a multistate outbreak has a wider reach with learning opportunities to prevent mass illness.
Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Campylobacter, and Listeria were common pathogens identified in 2024 multistate outbreaks.
In all, 62 multistate outbreaks were identified resulting in 2,605 associated illnesses, 861 hospitalizations, and 36 deaths.
Coming in the lead, Salmonella outbreaks were responsible for more illness per outbreak. Data indicates multistate outbreaks involving this germ caused a median of 36 illnesses per outbreak (ranging from 9 to 551 illnesses).
While this germ was responsible for more cases per outbreak, the number of severe cases were less than the other pathogens. Data shows that 31% of people in multistate Salmonella outbreaks were hospitalized. Less than 1% of them died. Hospitalization rates for other infections were much higher.
Outbreaks with STEC identified as the pathogen followed. This germ caused a median of 20.5 illnesses per outbreak (ranging from 8 to 104 illnesses). Reports indicate that 41% of those in multistate STEC outbreak required hospitalization. 1% of them died.
STEC can result in a serious complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. This is a type of kidney failure caused by ruptured blood cells clogging the filtering aspects of the kidneys. At least 7% of those in 2024 multistate STEC outbreaks experienced this deadly complication.
A single outbreak involving Campylobacter sickened five people. Placing this germ in third place. But this bacterium is still very dangerous. 67% of those sickened with Campylobacter in multistate outbreaks were hospitalized. Fortunately, no deaths were reported in that outbreak.
Finally, Listeria was responsible for a median of 4 illnesses per outbreak (ranging from 2 to 65 illnesses).
However, this germ ranked the most severe.
Data indicates that 93% of people in Listeria outbreaks required hospitalization. 13% of them died.
This germ is especially dangerous in pregnant women. In 2024, multistate Listeria outbreaks resulted in 11 cases of fetal loss.
Now that we know what made them sick, let’s discuss how they got sick.
Sources of 2024 multistate outbreaks can be broken down into two categories. Contaminated food and animal contact.
As you might expect, contaminated food ranked the leading cause of 2024 multistate outbreaks. Of the 45 outbreaks with a known source, 29 were related to contaminated food.
This racked up 1,533 illnesses, 519 hospitalizations, and 19 deaths.
Seeded vegetables led the source list with 754 claimed illnesses. However, the categories of “vegetable row crops,” “chicken,” and “dairy” caused the most foodborne outbreaks with a known source at four outbreaks each.
The remaining 16 “solved” outbreaks resulted in 663 illnesses, 191 hospitalization, and 2 deaths. Backyard poultry were attributed to most of these illnesses, claiming 532 cases. While this seems like a lot (and it certainly is), it is lower than the number of illnesses in the prior year by 53%.
Every illness is tragic, and deaths even more so. But some of the 2024 multistate outbreaks rank high on the list, giving them “notable status.” Whether they were the largest of their kind, a source finally uncovered after years of sick consumers, or other contributing factors, these notable outbreaks make the list.
I would be remiss if I did not include the historic Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak on this list. According to the CDC, this was the largest Listeria outbreak in over 20 years. At least 65 illnesses, 64 hospitalizations, and 10 deaths were connected to this outbreak.
The Yu Shang Food was also a notable Listeria outbreak. At least 24 illnesses, 22 hospitalizations, and 3 newborn deaths were connected to this outbreak.
The Listeria outbreak linked to Rizo Lopez Food spanned several years but was finally linked to the dairy manufacturer in 2024. At least 26 illnesses, 23 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths were connected to this outbreak.
Raw Farm Raw Cheddar Cheese was associated with another E. coli outbreak in 2024. This outbreak was linked to 11 illnesses, 5 hospitalizations, and 2 people with HUS.
So, how do you protect yourself from foodborne illness? While some things are out of your control, there are a few things you can do to help reduce your risk.
The easiest way to reduce your risk of foodborne illness is to wash your hands. Wash your hands before you eat or prepare food. After you use the restroom, help someone in the restroom, or change a diaper. Wash your hands after you touch animals or anything in their area. Especially livestock.
Always keep raw foods away from those that can be eaten without heat preparation. Starting in the grocery cart, in bags transporting them home, in your refrigerator, and while cooking. Use separate cutting boards, plates, and utensils to avoid cross-contamination.
Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Store leftovers promptly in shallow containers to help them cool faster. If food is left out for more than two hours (1 hour if ambient temperature is 90° F or higher), throw it out. Cook food to safe minimum internal temperature at the thickest part with an instant read food thermometer.
Food recalls are announced when a problem is discovered. Check lot numbers for products you may have purchased that have been recalled.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Looking Back at 2024 Multistate Outbreaks,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, major recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
If you have become sick from a foodborne illness, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help! Medical bills, lost wages, caring for a loved one, and other burdens associated with foodborne illness add up.
Call (833) 330-3663 or click here to send an email for a free, no-obligation consultation today!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)