The State With The Most Food Poisoning Cases Has Less Than A Million Residents - Tasting Table

"Every U.S. state has its own strengths, weaknesses, claims-to-fame, and cheeky eccentricities. But there's one trait none of the 50 states would be thrilled to claim: the highest rates of reported food poisonings. Unfortunately for South Dakota, it wears that mantle. For a state seldom mentioned in national health rankings, it's a bit surprising, especially given a population of less than one million residents as of 2024."

"According to Trace One, which analyzed four years of finalized data from CDC's National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), South Dakota does indeed have the most foodborne illnesses in the country as of mid-July 2025, with 92.2 cases per 100,000 people. That's more than double the national average of 48.8 cases.The same report notes that Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wyoming sit pretty near the top as well, creating a cluster of high-rate states in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest."

"It's important to note this statistic comes from infections confirmed by labs and reported to the CDC, rather than just any case of someone feeling "a bit off" after eating lunch or dining at a restaurant. Even still, most cases of genuine sickness from foodborne illness are never tested or reported. The CDC estimates 48 million nationwide cases of food poisoning every year, with 128,000 people hospitalized and 3,000 deaths."

South Dakota recorded 92.2 lab-confirmed foodborne illness cases per 100,000 people as of mid-July 2025, more than double the national average of 48.8. Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wyoming also show elevated rates, forming a regional cluster in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Reported cases reflect infections confirmed by laboratories and submitted to CDC surveillance systems, while many genuine foodborne illnesses go untested or unreported. The CDC estimates 48 million food poisoning cases annually nationwide, with 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Agriculture and livestock production are central to South Dakota's economy and contribute substantially to exposure risks.

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