Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsManagementRegulatoryRecall/Crisis ManagementUSDA

Researchers Develop Model to Estimate Economic Value of Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations, Recalls

By Bailee Henderson
chicken salad sandwich

Credit: Shutterbug75 via Pixabay

September 7, 2022

Recently, researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA’s ERS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with Iowa public health officials, developed a methodology that can be used to assess the value of state and federal foodborne illness outbreak investigations and subsequent recalls. The researchers demonstrated their model as replicable by employing it in a recent study that aimed to quantify the effect of public health actions of a 2018 foodborne Salmonella outbreak linked to prepackaged chicken salad.

Using their model, the researchers estimated that rapid response to the multistate foodborne outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium potentially avoided 94 reported cases and saved approximately $921,000 in medical costs and productivity losses. ERS has provided a visual chart depicting the modeling steps applied to the S. Typhimurium outbreak.

The outbreak investigation began on February 5, 2018. Through whole genome sequencing (WGS) and serotyping analyses, epidemiological interviews, and food sample testing, the Foodborne Rapid Response team of the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) was able to identify the source of the outbreak as prepackaged chicken salad sold at a specific grocery store chain in the U.S. Midwest. On February 9, the grocery store chain voluntarily removed the product from all of its Iowa stores, and on February 13, IDPH and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) issued a joint consumer advisory notification warning customers about the food safety incident.

Relevant federal and state data collected during the outbreak revealed that the grocery chain recalled 20,630 pounds of the contaminated chicken salad and successfully recovered 5,397 pounds (about 26 percent); based on a set of research-informed assumptions on food loss, ERS estimated that approximately 88.5 percent (13,481 pounds) of the unrecovered chicken salad was consumed. The study’s researchers used CDC information on state surveillance data to estimate the proportion of reported to unreported salmonellosis cases, which enabled the researchers to calculate that approximately 2,751 cases of salmonellosis were prevented by the outbreak investigation and recall. Finally, based on ERS estimates for the cost-per-case of foodborne salmonellosis, researchers calculated that the investigation and recall saved approximately $921,000 (the middle of the estimated range of $633,181–$1,013,196) in medical care costs and lost time at work.

KEYWORDS: case study CDC economic impact outbreak investigations recalls Salmonella USDA ERS

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Baileehendersonmay23

Bailee Henderson is the Digital Editor of Food Safety Magazine. She can be reached at hendersonb@bnpmedia.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Methods
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Personal Hygiene/Handwashing
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Best Practices
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

Top view of several sandwiches

FDA Provides Update on Listeria Outbreak Related to Products of Fresh & Ready Foods LLC

Image of container spilling red powder

FDA Approves Three Food Colors from Natural Sources

Image of microscopic pathogens

FDA Releases CORE 2023 Annual Report regarding Investigations of Foodborne Outbreaks

Events

June 12, 2025

Additive Bans Ahead: Your Guide to Avoiding Risk and Maintaining Agility

Live: June 12, 2025 at 12:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn how ingredient bans will impact product development, labeling, and sourcing.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • precut watermelon in packaging

    Researchers Develop New Quantitative Risk Assessment Model for Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations

    See More
  • sprouts

    An Overview of Historic Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations Linked to the Consumption of Sprouts: 2012–2020

    See More
  • vanilla ice cream being scooped

    FDA, CDC Study Demonstrates Benefits of Interagency Collaboration in Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations

    See More

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • September 24, 2024

    Avoid the Recalls: How to Maintain Brand Reputation and Drive Company-Wide Compliance

    On Demand: This webinar will cover how to reduce the risk of costly product recalls that can jeopardize brand and customer loyalty.
  • February 11, 2025

    Recall Readiness: How to Conduct a Mock Recall and Ensure Traceability

    On Demand: From this webinar, attendees will learn the importance of ensuring traceability along the supply chain. 
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing