Hawaii has wonderful growing conditions and year-round availability of fresh produce. Supporting Hawaii-grown foods is a great way to strengthen our economy. We also need to be aware of the food borne illness events that have taken place so we can redouble our efforts to avert them the next time.
Statistics on food-borne illnesses in Hawaii
- Hawaii’s outbreak scores (among the highest in nation: 8+ outbreaks per 1 million people) in “All Over the Map” by Center for Science in the Public Interest (Jan 2011)
- Hawaii ranks highest in nation, per capita, for the treatment cost for foodborne illness (Table 4 – $2008 per person per incident) according to Georgetown University study (Jan 2011)
- Hawaii’s Department of Health reported cases of notifiable diseases (10-year rolling summaries of Rat lungworm, E. coli, Salmonella, etc.)
- US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2011 report on food-borne illness (updates the 1999 Mead study)
- Hawaii leads the nation in food borne illness at 28/100,000 people – see a graphic of the data (many fish-related illness, constantly updated data)
- School meal program: Few instances of foodborne outbreaks reported, but opportunities exist to enhance outbreak data and food safety practices (May, 2003) (during study period, Hawaii ranked highest in the nation with 66 outbreaks per 100,000 – Table 5.)
Hawaii food-borne illness and pathogen contamination news by date reported
- Hawaii E. coli Outbreak Offers Lesson on Challenges of Epidemiology. (2013).
- Hawaii Detects E. coli Outbreak on Oahu: At least 9 sickened; 4 hospitalized. (2013).
- State Confirms Variant Flu Case on Maui, Department of Health News Release, July 31, 2012 and on KHON 2
- FAT Law Farm ordered to stop selling pesticide-contaminated basil, Pacific Business News, April 20, 2012 and MauiTV News.
- Venison sushi with Salmonella in Hawaii injures Honolulu man. Food Safety News, Mar 7, 2012.
- Minnesota man takes home rat lungworm nematode after being on Big Island farm. CBS TV Minnesota, Jan 20, 2012.
- Lao worker exposed to pesticides -
- Hawaii Reporter, Dec 16, 2011
- Hawaii Reporter, Dec 6, 2011
- The unlawful use of pesticide on Oahu green onion farm (Hawaii Dept of Health, Nov 2, 2011)
- Hawaii Candy, Inc. voluntarily recalls cookies for Yellow dye #6 (KHON, October 28, 2011)
- So Ono recalls salad due to misbranding and undeclared allergens (FDA, August 1, 2011)
- Hawaii firm (Warabeya USA) recalls convenience meals for possible Listeria contamination (FDA-FSIS, July 6, 2011)
- Four probable cases of Rat lungworm reported on Hawaii Island (Hawaii Dept of Health, May 25, 2011)
- Norwalk outbreak probe points to Haleiwa restaurant (Star Advertiser, April 15, 2011)
- Haleiwa restaurant temporarily closes after outbreak of Norwalk virus (KHON, April 14, 2011)
- Recall of Hawaii-made products (KITV, Jan 25, 2011)
- Local businesses outraged by recall (KHON, Jan 26, 2011)
- Recall potential risk to the name of “Made in Hawaii” (KITV, Jan 29, 2011)
- Revised list of recalled products (KHNL, Feb 2, 2011)
- Clients burn over kitchen closing (Honolulu StarAdvertiser, March 20, 2011)
- Hawaii Business Group, Inc. recalls a number of products due to possible pathogen (FDA, Jan 19, 2011)
- Rat lungworm from home garden infects 11-month old baby from Hawaii Island (Video story, KHON – Dec 21, 2010)
- Rat lungworm on Maui-one woman’s experience (Maui Vision Magazine, Dec 2010/Jan 2011)
- Hawaii Thai basil recalled in Canada because of Salmonella (Dec 2, 2010)
- Hawaii food-borne illness costs highest in nation ($2008/case on average, StarAdvertiser – March 5, 2010)
- Rat lungworm disease can devastate lives (Big Island Weekly – Jan 13, 2010)
- Parasites cause intense pain for Big Isle victims (Star Bulletin – Jan 5, 2009)
- Pork recalled for listeria contamination (Aug 2008)
- Ground beef recalled for E. coli (May 2008)
- E. coli outbreak on small produce farm on Kauai injures 8 and here (Aug 2007)
- Norwalk virus on Hawaii cruise ship (Nov 2007)
- Shigella outbreak on airlines leaving Hawaii (May 2007)
- Shigella outbreak hits airline passengers (Aug 2004)
- Norwalk virus hits cruise ship in Hawaii waters (March 1990)
- Salmonella enteritidis traced to locally-grown eggs impacts 70 consumers (Aug 1998)
- Gastrointestinal illness associated with seaweed consumption on Maui (Sept 1994)
- Shigella outbreak at poi mill on Maui (Aug 1970)