Hospitalizations, deaths from foodborne illness exploded in 2024

The number of people in the U.S. hospitalized or who died from contaminated food doubled in 2024, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

Recalls due to Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli increased by 41% last year.

Researchers analyzed data from the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, finding that one-third of food recalls last year were due to undeclared allergens or other ingredients.

The report states that some companies are not doing enough to prevent bacterial contamination, and when contamination occurs, companies often fail to conduct proper testing to detect it before it reaches consumers.