At 133 sickened – with 28 deaths – the Jensen Farms Frontera Listeria Outbreak has moved nearly into first place in the United States’ most deadly foodborne illness outbreaks. The numbers of ill and dead are expected to increase in this recent Listeria Outbreak, that has impacted 26 states. Here is a list of the top 5, not largest, but deadliest outbreaks in the U.S.:
1. Jalisco’s Listeria Outbreak
• January 1985
• Vehicle: cheese
• Number ill: 142
• Deaths: 29
2. Jensen Farms Frontera Listeria Outbreak
• September 2011 – ONGOING
• Vehicle: whole cantaloupe
• Number ill: 133
• Deaths: 28
3. Bil Mar Foods Ready-to-eat Meats Listeria Outbreak
• January 1998
• Vehicle: deli and cured meats
• Number ill: 101
• Deaths: 21
4. Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) Salmonella Outbreak
• September 2008
• Vehicle: Peanuts and peanut butter
• Number ill: 716
• Deaths: 9
5. Pilgrim’s Pride Listeria Outbreak
• July 2002
• Vehicle: deli meats
• Number ill: 54
• Deaths: 8