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The Per Case and Total Annual Costs of Foodborne Illness in the United States

Author

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  • Travis Minor
  • Angela Lasher
  • Karl Klontz
  • Bradley Brown
  • Clark Nardinelli
  • David Zorn

Abstract

We present an economic welfare‐based method to estimate the health costs associated with foodborne illness caused by known viruses, bacteria, parasites, allergens, two marine biotoxins, and unspecified agents. The method generates health costs measured in both quality‐adjusted life years and in dollars. We calculate the reduction in quality‐adjusted life days caused by the illness and add reductions in quality‐adjusted life years from any secondary effects that are estimated to occur. For fatal cases, we calculate the life years lost due to premature death. We add direct medical expenses to the monetary costs as derived from estimates of willingness to pay to reduce health risks. In total, we estimate that foodborne illness represents an annual burden to society of approximately $36 billion, with an average identified illness estimated to reduce quality‐adjusted life days by 0.84, which is monetized and included in the average cost burden per illness of $3,630.

Suggested Citation

  • Travis Minor & Angela Lasher & Karl Klontz & Bradley Brown & Clark Nardinelli & David Zorn, 2015. "The Per Case and Total Annual Costs of Foodborne Illness in the United States," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(6), pages 1125-1139, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:35:y:2015:i:6:p:1125-1139
    DOI: 10.1111/risa.12316
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. James K. Hammitt, 2023. "Consistent valuation of a reduction in mortality risk using values per life, life year, and quality‐adjusted life year," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(9), pages 1964-1981, September.
    2. Toran, Katherine & Lanthier, Michael & Estrin, Andrew J., 2022. "The Public Health Costs from Antimicrobial Resistance in Ten Common Pathogens," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322310, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Maria R. Ibanez & Michael W. Toffel, 2020. "How Scheduling Can Bias Quality Assessment: Evidence from Food-Safety Inspections," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(6), pages 2396-2416, June.
    4. Hammitt, James K., 2023. "Consistent Valuation of a Reduction in Mortality Risk using Values per Life, Life Year, and Quality-Adjusted Life Year," TSE Working Papers 23-1431, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    5. Travis Minor & Matt Parrett, 2020. "An evaluation of the USDA's policy to reduce listeria illnesses in ready‐to‐eat meat and poultry products," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(3), pages 347-362, June.
    6. Evans, Keith S. & Teisl, Mario F. & Lando, Amy. M. & Liu, Sherry T., 2020. "Risk perceptions and food-handling practices in the home," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    7. Kuchler, Fred, 2015. "How Much Does It Matter How Sick You Get? Consumers' Responses to Foodborne Disease Outbreaks of Different Severities," Economic Research Report 262205, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    8. Marasteanu, Ioana Julia & Minor, Travis, 2017. "Foodborne Outbreaks And Farm Structure: An Examination Of Vegetable And Melon Farming," International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Department of Economics and Finance, vol. 5(4), October.

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