Food contaminated with pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella causes an estimated 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths annually in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The U.S. is not making enough progress in reducing these preventable diseases. Wider use of effective strategies to decrease pathogenic contamination throughout the supply chain can substantially improve the safety of our food. Pew worked to modernize food safety approaches used by federal agencies and businesses so that they reflect current risks to human health as well as employ scientific and technological advancements. The project concluded in 2021.
