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# GRAPHIC: One in six U.S. residents get sick from food poisoning each year. These are among the costliest germs.
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/graphic-one-in-six-u-s-residents-get-sick-from-food-poisoning-each-year-these-are-among-the-costliest-germs/
- Published: 2021-02-10T23:37:29.000Z
- Updated: 2021-02-10T23:37:29.000Z
- Description: Foodborne illnesses cost more than $15 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity and wages, according to the federal government.
- Author: Pam Dempsey, Investigate Midwest
- Tags: Agribusiness, Health, Data Harvest, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TP::Explainer, Salmonella, USDA, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

Foodborne illness cost more than $15.6 billion a year in medical expenses and lost productivity and wages among other direct and indirect costs, according to the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/cdc-and-food-safety.html?ref=investigatemidwest.org#:~:text=Foodborne%20illness%20is%20a%20common,than%20%2415.6%20billion%20each%20year.).

An estimated 3,000 people die from food poisoning annually, which is caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses.

*\[Read more: [Color of meat doesn’t gauge safety](https://www.investigatemidwest.org/color-of-meat-doesnt-gauge-safety/)\]*

The graphic below shows some of the most common and costliest illnesses annually, according to updated cost estimates by the [U.S. Department of Agriculture released in late January.](https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/cost-estimates-of-foodborne-illnesses/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cd/d3/cdd3c059-8898-40b1-bcf7-cb2d3aa89775/content/images/investigatemidwest-org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/od0wn-top-foodborne-illnesses-nbsp.png)

*\[Read more: [Report: U.S. Department of Agriculture can do more to keep pathogens out of meat and poultry supply](https://www.investigatemidwest.org/report-u-s-department-of-agriculture-can-do-more-to-keep-pathogens-out-of-meat-and-poultry-supply/)\]*