Death by salad: Contaminated foods that have killed Americans

Death by salad: Contaminated foods that have killed Americans - The US is in the midst of a weeks-long E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce that claimed its first victim recently. The foodborne outbreak is the latest to hit the US but it's far from being the first one. In America's recent history, at least 17 foods have been tied to illnesses and even deaths.

Check out the worst foodborne outbreaks to hit the US in the past few decades as listed by Health Line.

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Romaine lettuce - The current outbreak has killed a person in California and has expended to 25 states.

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Romaine lettuce - The CDC has reported 121 cases of illnesses associated with E. coli in romaine lettuce from the region around Yuma, AZ, as the outbreak is suspected to have started there.

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Romaine lettuce - At least 52 people have been hospitalized in connection with the outbreak, 14 of which have reported kidney failure.

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Yuma, AZ - Authorities have linked the outbreak to romaine lettuce produced in the Yuma region of Arizona, which is responsible for most romaine lettuce produced in the country during the winter months.

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Illnesses - One in six Americans die every year from foodborne illnesses.

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Deaths and hospitalizations - The CDC also estimates that are 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths worldwide annually.

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How do they start? - Outbreaks happen when foods carry dangerous germs or toxins, such as salmonella, the bacteria that causes the the most hospitalizations in the US with more 19,000 cases per year.

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Salmonella outbreaks - The symptoms associated with salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, and they usually appear 12 to 72 hours after infection. If treated, those affected by it recover within a week.

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PCA peanut butter (2009) - In 2009, 714 people fell ill and nine died from a salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter produced by the Peanut Corporation of America. The now-bankrupted company had to recall 3,600 peanut butter products.

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Cargill ground turkey (2011) - In 2011, Cargill, Incorporated had to recall 36 million lbs of ground turkey after one person died, and another 136 became ill across the 34 states that were suspected of having been infected by an antibiotic-resistant strain of salmonella associated with the company's product.

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Foster Farms chicken (2013) - The California producer issued a voluntary recall after its chicken products became suspected of infecting 634 people with Salmonella across 29 states and Puerto Rico. No deaths were reported.

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Mexican cucumbers (2015) - Cucumber imported from Mexico was suspected of infecting 907 people in 40 states, resulting in six deaths and about 200 hospitalizations.

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E. coli outbreaks - Escherichia coli is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of people and animals, but infections by certain strains can cause people to become ill. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloody stool, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever. What causes people to get sick is actually a toxin produced by the bacteria, so antibiotics are ineffective in treating the infection.

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Jack in the Box hamburgers (1993) - Contaminated hamburger meat is suspected to have killed four people in California and Washington, along with causing hundreds of hospitalizations. The fast-food chain almost closed because of the generalized panic that ensued. The outbreak prompted the government to tighten regulations associated with food handling.

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Dole baby spinach (2006) - The FDA linked E. coli infections to uncooked spinach in 26 states in September. During the outbreak, three people died, while 31 others suffered kidney failure and 205 reported having diarrhea and dehydration. Dole recalled its bagged baby spinach products. The contamination could have originated in a cattle ranch that leased land to a spinach farmer.

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Taco Bell fast food (2006) - That same year, another E. coli outbreak that affected more than 70 people was associated with the fast-food chain. The infection led to more than 50 hospitalizations, 31 of which involved kidney failure. The outbreak is believed to have been due to contaminated lettuce from California. The outbreak led to a stronger regulation of lettuce.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill fast food (2015) - The popular fast-food chain experienced an E. coli outbreak between October and November, which resulted in 22 hospitalizations and no deaths. No cause for the outbreak has been confirmed.

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Botulism outbreaks - This illness is caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing or speaking, blurry vision, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

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Trini & Carmen’s hot sauce (1977) - This outbreak started in Pontiac, MI, after customers of Trini and Carmen's Restaurant began reporting symptoms of food poisoning in March. Investigators linked the outbreak to the restaurant's hot sauce made from home-canned jalapeño peppers. The restaurant was closed within days. No deaths were reported and 58 people became ill.

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Home-canned potatoes (2015) - The worst outbreak of botulism in recent US history took place in Fairfield County, OH, when one person died from respiratory failure and 29 others got sick. The outbreak was linked to improperly home-canned potatoes that were used in a potato salad made for a church potluck picnic.

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Listeria outbreaks - Listeria infection is particularly worrisome for pregnant women, as they are 10 times more likely to contract it. Symptoms include headaches, confusion, loss of balance, seizures, fatigue, muscle aches, and fever.

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Jalisco Products cheese (1985) - The listeria outbreak lasted for seven months and killed 10 newborns and 18 adults, affecting a total of 142 in Los Angeles country. 20 women also miscarried after contracting the infection.

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Hot dogs (1998-1999) - Contaminated hot dogs caused 100 people across 24 states to become ill, causing 14 adult deaths and four women to miscarry. The contamination started at Bil Mar Foods’ manufacturing plant in Zeeland, MI, and affected at least nine brands, including Sara Lee Deli Meat.

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Pilgrim’s Pride turkey meat (2002) - The brand's sliced deli meat was deemed the cause of this outbreak that killed seven adults and caused three stillbirths across Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Michigan. The company had to recall more than 27 million lbs of the product.

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Cantaloupes (2011) - Authorities attributed 33 deaths to tainted cantaloupes, which investigators said started at Jensen Farms’ packing facility near Holly, CO. A total of 147 people became infected during the outbreak.

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Hepatitis A from food contamination - Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Its spread occurs primarily when food and/or water becomes contaminated with feces from an infected person. Symptoms of the illness includes fever, jaundice, dark urine, abdominal pain, joint pain, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

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Frozen strawberries (1997) - An outbreak in Calhoun County, MI, caused 153 people to become infected. The tainted fruit was used in a federal school lunch program and distributed across six states.

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Chi-Chi’s salsa and chili con queso (2003) - The outbreak, which killed three people and affected 555 total, was traced to green onions imported from Mexico and used to make salsa and chili con queso at Chi-Chi’s restaurant in Monaca, PA.

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Tropical Smoothie Café drinks (2016) - The outbreak affected 143 people, including 56 who were hospitalized, and was linked to Tropical Smoothie Café's strawberries imported from Egypt. No deaths were reported.

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