Food Poisoning: the Latest Data from the Food Standards Agency

Articles

24/02/2020

Figures just released by the Food Standards Agency show that there are estimated to be about 2.4 million cases of food poisoning a year in the UK; more than twice as many as the estimated figure in 2009. This does not mean that cases of food poisoning have increased; rather, it is a reflection of more sensitive testing for foodborne illness.

In summary, the new studies show that:

  • an estimated 380,000 cases of norovirus linked to food occur in the UK per year;
  • eating out accounts for an estimated 37% of all foodborne norovirus cases, takeaways at 26%, open-headed lettuce on retail sale at 30%, raspberries on retail sale at 4%, and oysters on retail sale at 3%;
  • the revised foodborne norovirus estimate, combined with better analysis of how many illnesses of unknown cause are also likely to be caused by food, suggest around 2.4 million estimated UK cases of foodborne illness occur each year.

These findings are significant for practitioners in the field; whereas some gastroenterologists have not previously been prepared to acknowledge that norovirus is often spread by food, these studies show most emphatically that it is. Furthermore, as science develops, it is becoming clearer that many previously idiopathic cases of gastroenteritis are in fact caused by foodborne pathogens. We can predict that this trend is likely to continue in the coming years as the FSA carries out further work on the causes of gastrointestinal illness.

It would appear that in many cases viral illness can be, and is, spread by food; and that its transmission can be prevented. This is obviously doubly important now that a poorly understood virus is sweeping the globe.

You heard it here first: the solution to the Viral Crisis is to avoid lettuce. Happily I’ve been doing that for years.

Latest News & Events

The Dekagram: 8th July 2025

In the week the Hague Convention came into force, whilst the domestic courts heard an important appeal on Covid refund claims, Anirudh Mandagere and Tom Collins bring us all the latest news both internationally and nationally. And as always, members of Deka Chambers are at…

Tom Little KC and James Thacker KC provide training to the CPS Homicide Unit

On 1 July, chambers was delighted to welcome leaders and members of the CPS Homicide Unit for a training and social evening. First Senior Treasury Counsel and Joint Head of Chambers Tom Little KC, was able to draw upon his experience of prosecuting some of…

The Dekagram: 30th June 2025

This week Julia Brechtelsbauer grapples with the continuing issues around taking evidence from abroad, and examines a case which illustrates well the problems, both legal and practical, that can arise when dealing with witnesses located in another jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Andrew Spencer asks whether UK law…

© Deka Chambers 2025

Search

Portfolio Builder

Select the expertise that you would like to download or add to the portfolio

Download    Add to portfolio   
Portfolio
Title Type CV Email

Remove All

Download


Click here to share this shortlist.
(It will expire after 30 days.)