The number of Americans with confirmed illness caused by contaminated food rose by 25% last year, according to a new report from the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund.

The Food for Thought 2025 report shows a total of 1,392 Americans in 2024 became ill after consuming a contaminated food item, up from 1,118 in 2023. What's more, the number of hospitalizations more than doubled, rising from 230 to 487, and deaths climbed from 8 to 19.

Nearly all (98%) of the people became ill from food that was recalled in 13 outbreaks with confirmed illnesses, all but 1 of which involved either Listeria, Salmonella, or Escherichia coli.

"We saw a dramatic increase in serious illness and deaths associated with unsafe food," the authors of the report wrote. "The biggest threats stem from Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli."

Because many people recover from food poisoning without medical attention, the true numbers are likely much higher. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in every 6 Americans becomes ill every year from contaminated food or beverages.

Yet at the same time, the 296 food recall announcements from the two agencies that regulate all food sold in the United States -- the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) -- represented a 5% decline from 2023. While FDA recalls rose by 8%, USDA recalls fell by 38%. The authors say the overall decline could be the result of fewer inspections or fewer people reporting foodborne illness, and not an indication that food was any safer in 2024.

Although the number of food recall announcements were down, foodborne-illness outbreaks were in the headlines in 2024, not only because of their size but also because they involved some of the country's most well-known food brands.

Among those was the multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meat. The 19-state outbreak sickened 61 people, 60 of whom were hospitalized, and is suspected in the deaths of 10 people. An investigation by the USDA identified multiple food safety lapses at a Boar's Head facility in Virginia that produced liverwurst, which was identified as the source of the outbreak. The plant was closed indefinitely on September 13.

Another was an outbreak of E coli O157:H7 tied to Quarter Pounder hamburgers sold at McDonald's. The outbreak sickened 104 people in 14 states, with 34 hospitalizations and 1 death. The FDA identified raw slivered onions as the likely source of contamination in that outbreak.

Other major outbreaks included a multistate outbreak of Salmonella tied to cucumbers that resulted in 551 cases and 155 hospitalizations in 34 states and the District of Columbia. The outbreak led Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. to issue a cucumber recall on May 31. Another Salmonella outbreak in November connected to cucumbers grown in Mexico caused 113 illnesses in 23 states, including 28 hospitalizations.

We saw a dramatic increase in serious illness and deaths associated with unsafe food....The biggest threats stem from Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli.

There were also notable outbreaks involving eggs, fresh basil, and charcuterie meats contaminated with Salmonella; queso fresco and cotija cheese contaminated with Listeria; and organic carrots, organic walnuts, and raw cheddar cheese contaminated with E coli.

"This escalated some consumers' concerns about the seemingly healthy food they routinely purchase," the report states.

Overall, the report finds that while the single biggest reason for food recalls last year was undeclared allergens or ingredients, the number of recalls because of Listeria, Salmonella, and E coli increased by 41% and accounted for 39% of all recalls in 2024. Recalls because of Listeria contamination rose from 47 to 65, and recalls for Salmonella increased from 27 to 41.

Other reasons for food recalls included excessive lead and contamination from plastic, metal, or some other potentially hazardous material.

One of the problems the report highlights is the lag time between initial illnesses, product recalls, and when consumers learn about those recalls. The Boar's Head Listeria outbreak provides a good example of how this time lag plays out in real life.

While the first case in the outbreak was identified in late May 2024, the Boar's Head recall wasn't issued until July 26, followed by an expansion on July 30. The report notes that people continued to get sick from Boar's Head products until September 13. The time period for a person developing Listeria after consuming a contaminated product is within 2 weeks.

"For various reasons, we see cases every single year where people are getting sick from foods long after the recall was publicly announced and past the likely incubation period," the authors wrote.

Part of the problem, the authors argue, is that only two recall notifications are required -- one from the FDA and the other from the company that's issuing the recall. Those notifications are posted on the FDA website and reported in company press releases, but there's no requirement to directly contact grocery stores, restaurants, or consumers. Under the USDA rules, companies must notify the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Although consumers can sign up for text and email recall alerts from the FDA and USDA, the authors say the sheer number of such alerts -- most of which aren't a huge risk -- can be overwhelming and cause people to tune out.

"How can people learn more quickly about contaminated food that's been recalled? It's a complicated problem with no single or simple solution," the authors wrote. "But any changes -- by companies, regulators or consumers -- would help."

Among their suggestions is for the FDA and USDA to develop a way for a consumers to get direct email, text, or phone alerts of all class 1 recalls or allergens of concerns, with an option to be notified about specific categories of recalls and alerts. Other ideas include requiring companies conducting a recall to reach out to consumers directly and implementing part of the Food Safety Modernization Act that requires food retailers to post recall notices consistently.