Foodborne disease outbreaks caused by imported food appeared to rise in 2009 and 2010, with seafood being the most common source, according to new research from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
The CDC reported on Wednesday that, from 2005 to 2010, 39 outbreaks and 2,348 illnesses were linked to imported food from 15 countries. Of those 39 outbreaks, 17 were caused by fish, and nearly half occurred in 2009 and 2010. Almost 45 percent of the imported foods causing outbreaks originated from Asia.
“It’s too early to say if the recent numbers represent a trend, but CDC officials are analyzing information from 2011 and will continue to monitor for these outbreaks in the future,” said Hannah Gould, an epidemiologist with CDC’s division of foodborne, waterborne and environmental diseases.
“We need better, and more, information about what foods are causing outbreaks and where those foods are coming from,” she added. “Knowing more about what is making people sick, will help focus prevention efforts on those foods that pose a higher risk of causing illness.”
Roughly 85 percent of the U.S. seafood supply is imported. Imports of seafood, fruits, vegetables and processed foods have increased dramatically in recent years, acknowledge the CDC.
