List of foodborne illness outbreaks

This is a list of foodborne illness outbreaks. A foodborne illness may be from an infectious disease, heavy metals, chemical contamination, or from natural toxins, such as those found in poisonous mushrooms.

Deadliest

List of foodborne illness outbreaks by death toll

Canada

2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak

China

2008 Chinese milk scandal

Germany

2011 Escherichia coli O104:H4 outbreak

Japan

Russia

2024 Russian botulism outbreak

Spain

1981 Toxic oil syndrome

United Kingdom

2005 outbreak of E.coli O157 in South Wales
1996 outbreak of E. coli O157 in Lanarkshire, Scotland
Loch Maree Hotel botulism poisoning

United States

In 1999, an estimated 5,000 deaths, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 76 million illnesses were caused by foodborne illnesses within the US. Illness outbreaks lead to food recalls.