--- title: "The Litigated Dish: Can foodborne illness cause death?" date: 2024-02-04T17:54:00-08:00 author: Julie Dueck canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/can-foodborne-illness-cause-death" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Case News](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news) / # The Litigated Dish: Can foodborne illness cause death? **By Ilana Korchia** Ok, I understand that discussing the potential lethality of foodborne illnesses is not the most uplifting topic, but it is a crucial aspect of food safety that often ranks high among the internet’s frequently asked questions. My responsibility is to provide informative answers, even if they aren’t the most cheerful. Here are the facts: - According to the CDC, roughly one in six Americans, or 48 million people annually, fall victim to foodborne illnesses. Among them, 128,000 are hospitalized, and sadly, 3,000 lose their lives. - There are 31 known pathogens responsible for causing foodborne illnesses. While many of these are monitored by advanced public health systems, the majority of cases are attributed to “unspecified agents,” where the specific pathogen remains unidentified. - Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illnesses, while Salmonella, the second most prevalent, tops the charts for hospitalizations and fatalities. In the United States, Salmonella alone claims 420 lives each year. Recently, a [Salmonella outbreak linked to Mexican cantaloupe](https://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/after-15-dead-cantaloupe-salmonella-outbreak-declared-over/) resulted in 15 fatalities in the U.S. and Canada. - Salmonella infections can lead to complications, including persistent diarrhea causing fluid loss and dehydration. In some cases, the bacteria can exit the gastrointestinal tract, triggering severe or life-threatening infections. - Another less common but highly dangerous foodborne pathogen is Listeria monocytogenes. Although it causes only 1,600 illnesses annually in the U.S., it claims 260 lives, resulting in a more than 16% fatality rate for those affected. In contrast, salmonellosis carries a mere 0.03% chance of death. - Listeriosis manifests as noninvasive or invasive forms. The invasive form affects specific high-risk groups, including pregnant women who face a 20-fold increased risk. This severe form can lead to complications such as septicemia, meningitis, miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature labor. - Recent outbreaks, like the [HMC Farms peach-related listeriosis incident](https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/02/cdc-says-listeria-outbreak-linked-to-peaches-is-over-with-one-dead/#:~:text=On%20November%2017%2C%202023%2C%20HMC,patients%20separated%20by%20long%20periods.) affecting 11 individuals and resulting in one death, highlight the ongoing challenges. Additionally, the [Frugals Listeria outbreak in Pierce County](https://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/marler-clark-files-second-listeria-lawsuit-in-frugals-outbreak/) claimed three lives. - Certain populations, such as older adults, infants, pregnant women, individuals with compromised immune systems, and those with chronic conditions, face a higher risk of death or severe complications from foodborne illnesses. It underscores the importance of prioritizing food safety measures to protect vulnerable groups. **About Ilana Korchia** Ilana Korchia is a civil litigator specializing in food safety and foodborne illness litigation at Marler Clark. She represents victims of foodborne illness outbreaks both in the United States and internationally. Ilana first joined Marler Clark as a summer intern in May 2019, shortly after earning her degree in food science from the University of Florida. During her internship, she petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture to classify 31 strains of Salmonella as adulterants in meat and poultry products, an effort that contributed to significant legislative changes. Currently, Ilana’s work at Marler Clark encompasses all facets of litigation, along with speaking engagements, advocacy, and media appearances. She also authors The Litigated Dish column on Food Safety News, which educates the public about foodborne illness outbreaks and their associated pathogens. Beyond her role at Marler Clark, Ilana frequently judges competitions at Seattle University School of Law and serves as a Bar Examiner for the Washington State Bar Association. ### Lawsuit updates about foodborne illnesses [Reactive Arthritis Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=reactive-arthritis&year=all) [E. coli Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=e-coli&year=all) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=guillain-barre-syndrome&year=all) [Salmonella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=salmonella&year=all) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hemolytic-uremic-syndrome&year=all) [Listeria Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=listeria&year=all) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=irritable-bowel-syndrome&year=all) [Hepatitis A Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hepatitis-a&year=all) [Norovirus Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=norovirus&year=all) [Botulism Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=botulism&year=all) [Campylobacter Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=campylobacter&year=all) [Shigella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=shigella&year=all) [Cyclospora Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=cyclospora&year=all) ### Lawsuits updates by year [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1998](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1998) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1999](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1999) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2000](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2000) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2001](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2001) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2002](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2002) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2003](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2003) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2004](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2004) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2005](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2005) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2006](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2006) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2007](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2007) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2008) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2009) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2010) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2011) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2012) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2013) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2014) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2015) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2016) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2017) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2018) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2019) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2020) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2021) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2025](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2025) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2026](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2026) ##### Get Help #### Affected by an outbreak or recall? 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