The CDC just published its final report on the Jensen Farms Frontera Listeria Outbreak.  With 30 dead and 146 sickened it has moved into first place in the United States in most deadly foodborne illness outbreaks (at least in the last several decades).   Here is a list of outbreaks in recent history:

1.  Jensen Farms Frontera Listeria Outbreak

•          September 2011

•          Vehicle: whole cantaloupe

•          Number ill: 146

•          Deaths: 30 (31, counting miscarriages)

2.  Jalisco’s Listeria Outbreak

•          January 1985

•          Vehicle: cheese

•          Number ill: 142

•          Deaths: 28 (48, counting miscarriages)

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

6.  Dole Brand Natural Selections Bagged Spinach E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak

•          August 2006

•          Vehicle: spinach

•          Number ill: 238

•          Deaths: 5

7.  SanGar Produce Listeria Outbreak

•          January 2010

•          Vehicle: celery

•          Number ill: 10

•          Deaths: 5

8.  Jack in the Box E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak

•          November 1992

•          Vehicle: ground beef

•          Number ill: 708

•          Deaths: 4

9.  Chi Chi’s Hepatitis A Outbreak

•          October 2003

•          Vehicle: green onions

•          Number ill: 660

•          Deaths: 4

Thanks for some updated numbers on www.outbreakdatabase.com.