In the United States:
Oysters from Long Island, NY, held in polluted waters, sickened more than 1,500 people in New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.; 150 died.
A public water source in Ithaca, NY, was polluted from a dam construction site, resulting in a typhoid outbreak involving 1,350 people; 82 died, including 29 Cornell University students.
Raw milk delivered door-to-door in the Boston area was responsible for a strep outbreak; 48 people died.
“Rocky Ford” cantaloupe from Colorado became contaminated, probably in the packing facility, sickening at least 146 people in 28 states; 33 deaths and one miscarriage. Ten additional deaths were possibly related to the outbreak.
Mexican cheese made by a Los Angeles company sickened mostly Hispanic women, many who were pregnant; 28 died.
Raw milk delivered door-to-door in Portland, OR, was contaminated; 22 died.
Ball Park hot dogs and Sara Lee deli meats were recalled after Listeria was found in the Michigan processing plant; 21 died.
Canned ripe olives from California sold to inland states were contaminated and caused outbreaks in three states; 19 died.
9. Salmonella Typhimurium, 2008-09
Peanut butter and paste contaminated with S. Typhimurium caused at least 714 illnesses in 46 states; 9 died.
10. Listeria, 2002
Sliced turkey meats from Pilgrim’s Pride were responsible for a multiple state outbreak; 8 died.