Which organism is not among the top four causes of death from foodborne illness in the United States?

• A. Salmonella
• B. Norovirus
• C. Toxoplasma
• D. E. coli O157:H7

Answer: (D)

Understanding which pathogens contribute most to deaths from foodborne illness involves looking at national death data by organism. E. coli O157:H7 can cause severe disease and even death, but when you compare fatalities across pathogens, its total death toll is smaller than that of several other organisms. Salmonella infections lead to many deaths due to both high incidence and serious illness; Listeria monocytogenes is especially deadly for pregnant women, newborns, and older adults; Toxoplasma gondii is a significant cause of death in vulnerable populations; and Norovirus, while responsible for many illnesses, also results in deaths chiefly among older or immunocompromised individuals. Because of these patterns, E. coli O157:H7 does not rank among the top four causes of death from foodborne illness in the United States.