Report Estimates Foodborne Illness Costs $152 Billion Annually
The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Produce Safety Project (PSP) recently published a cost analysis claiming that health-related expenditures for foodborne illness far exceed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s estimate of $6.9 billion annually.
Authored by former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) economist Robert Scharff, the report concludes that the United States spends $152 billion per year on foodborne illnesses from all sources. The study also notes that these numbers cover health-related costs only and thus represent “a lower bound estimate of the total societal costs,” including costs to industry and government. “Even when pain and suffering losses from acute illnesses are not included, the cost to society is $103 billion,” maintains the report, which used FDA methods to determine the costs of physician services, pharmaceuticals, and hospital visits related to foodborne illnesses, as well as quality of life losses such as lost life expectancy, pain and suffering, and functional disability.
Intended as a tool for legislators, program officers and regulatory economists, the report further suggests that foodborne illnesses traced to fresh, canned and processed produce are “responsible for $39 billion of health-related losses.” In addition, it names California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania as the states most affected by these particular outbreaks. “This report makes it clear that the gaps in our food-safety system are causing significant health and economic impacts,” a Pew spokesperson was quoted as saying. “Especially in challenging economic times we cannot afford to waste billions of dollars fighting preventable diseases after it is too late. The Senate needs to act on this now and pass legislation that will improve protections for public health.” See Business Week, MSNBC.com, Los Angeles Times, Pew Charitable Trusts Press Release, PSP Press Release, and USA Today, March 3, 2010.
