According to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s (PIRG’s) Food for Thought 2025 report, hospitalizations and deaths linked to foodborne illnesses doubled in 2024, and 98 percent of illnesses were attributed to just 13 outbreaks.

More specifically, there were 1,392 foodborne illnesses recorded in the U.S. in 2024, an increase from 1,118 seen in 2023. Additionally, hospitalizations more than doubled from 230 in 2023 to 487 in 2024. So did deaths, increasing from 8 in 2023 to 19 in 2024.

Despite the increased number of illnesses and severe outcomes seen in 2024, the combined number of recalls issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) decreased by 5 percent from 2023 (313 recalls) to 2024 (296 recalls). FDA issued 8 percent more recall alerts in 2024 (241 recalls) than in 2023, while USDA issued 38 percent fewer recall alerts in 2024 (55 recalls) than in 2023.

Undeclared allergens/ingredients caused the most recalls (101), accounting for 34 percent of all recalls issued by USDA and FDA in 2024. This represents a decrease from the 154 allergen/ingredient recalls seen in 2023, comprising nearly half of the year’s total.

The number of recalls caused by three important foodborne pathogens—Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, or Escherichia coli—increased in 2024 and together comprised 39 percent of all recalls. L. monocytogenes caused the second greatest number of recalls in 2024, increasing to 65 recalls from 47 in 2023. Salmonella ranked third with 41 recalls in 2024, compared to 27 in 2023. E. coli caused 3 percent of recalls in 2024.

Of the 13 outbreaks that caused 98 percent of illnesses in 2024, all but one involved L. monocytogenes, Salmonella, or E. coli (the exception being an outbreak involving toxic levels of muscimol in mushroom-based edibles).

Significant U.S. Foodborne Illness Outbreaks in 2024

The year saw an unusual number of high-profile, multistate foodborne illness outbreaks involving well-known brands and/or a large proportion of severe health outcomes.

For example, between July and September 2024, an outbreak of L. monocytogenes infections linked to Boar’s Head ready-to-eat (RTE) deli meats caused 61 illnesses, 60 hospitalizations, and ten deaths in 19 states. The products implicated in the outbreak were produced at the company’s Jarratt, Virginia facility, which had a years-long history of serious, unresolved food safety and hygiene noncompliances, per USDA inspection reports unearthed via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The 69 recorded noncompliances included the presence of mold, insects, meat residues on food contact equipment, and leaking pipes, among others.

Later in the year, between October and December 2024, an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157:H7 occurred in people who reported eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwiches from locations in the U.S. West and Midwest. A total of 104 people were sickened in 14 states, resulting in 34 hospitalizations, four cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and one death (not one of the HUS patients). Traceback investigation conducted by FDA pointed to fresh, slivered onions served on the sandwiches as the vehicle of illness, which were supplied by a Taylor Farms facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Another significant outbreak occurring between June and November 2024 involved Diamond Shruumz-brand mushroom-based chocolate and candy edibles sold “legally” online and at retail locations like vape shops and gas stations nationwide. The edibles claimed not to contain psychedelic substances, but were simultaneously advertised as a method of “microdosing” (implying a drug-like effect). The illnesses caused by the edibles were widespread and severe, with 180 illnesses suspected to be associated with the outbreak across 34 states, 118 confirmed illnesses, 73 hospitalizations, and three deaths. Outbreak patients experienced symptoms including seizures, central nervous system depression, abnormal heart rates, hyper- and hypotension, nausea, and vomiting; intubation was required in some cases. FDA testing of the Diamond Shruumz edibles found a number of undisclosed compounds, including 4-acetoxy-DMT; desmethoxyyangonin, dihydrokavain, and kavain (kavalactones found in the kava plant); psilocin (a Schedule I-controlled substance); Pregabalin (a prescription drug); muscimol (found in the psychotropic Amantia muscaria mushroom); and ibotenic acid. In December, FDA reminded industry that A. muscaria is not approved for food use or use in “legal” edibles.

Additionally, two foodborne illness outbreaks caused by Salmonella-contaminated cucumbers caused a large number of illnesses, but no deaths. Between May and July 2024, across 34 states and Washington D.C, 551 people were sickened and 155 were hospitalized after eating cucumbers. In November and December, 113 illnesses and 28 hospitalizations were reported in 23 states, linked to the consumption of cucumbers grown by Agrotato S.A. de C.V. in Mexico.

Some other notable foodborne illness outbreaks that occurred in the final months of 2024 included a string of E. coli O121:H19 infections linked to organic carrots, resulting in 48 illnesses, 20 hospitalizations, one death, and one case of HUS in 19 states; as well as an L. monocytogenes outbreak caused by RTE meat and poultry products produced by Yu Shang Food Inc., which caused 19 illnesses, 17 hospitalizations, and two infant deaths across eight states.