(NewsNation) — Food recalls issued by the Food and Drug Administration increased by 8% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to a new report, and they’re causing more deaths.
The Public Interest Research Group released the report on Feb. 13, finding that hospitalizations and deaths caused by contaminated foods doubled in 2024.
Nineteen people died from illnesses caused by contaminated foods while another 487 were hospitalized.
Food recalls and alerts through the U.S. Department of Agriculture decreased by 38% last year, however, to 55. In comparison, the FDA accounted for 241 food and beverage recalls in 2024.
The report added that 1,400 people were ill from foods eaten, nearly all of which came from just 13 outbreaks.
Of these outbreaks, E. Coli, Salmonella and Listeria were responsible for all but one.
Of all food outbreaks, more than half were caused by norovirus, commonly known as the stomach bug.
According to the CDC, norovirus is the foremost cause of food outbreaks in the U.S.
