--- title: Labs Fail to Detect Cases of Bacterial Food Contamination description: Foodborne illnesses are a continuing problem in the U.S., but labs that are supposed to detect the presence of pathogens aren't up to snuff, according... canonical: https://time.com/archive/7136094/labs-fail-to-detect-cases-of-bacterial-food-contamination/ author: TIME Staff article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2013-05-21T11:00:15.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-16T10:00:13.148Z article:section: Health og:title: Labs Fail to Detect Cases of Bacterial Food Contamination og:description: Foodborne illnesses are a continuing problem in the U.S., but labs that are supposed to detect the presence of pathogens aren't up to snuff, according... og:url: https://time.com/archive/7136094/labs-fail-to-detect-cases-of-bacterial-food-contamination/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta673eb1265e10882/698a92b2457a5204e1d7062e/163251843.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5520 og:image:height: 3105 og:image:alt: 163251843 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Labs Fail to Detect Cases of Bacterial Food Contamination twitter:description: Foodborne illnesses are a continuing problem in the U.S., but labs that are supposed to detect the presence of pathogens aren't up to snuff, according... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta673eb1265e10882/698a92b2457a5204e1d7062e/163251843.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) # Labs Fail to Detect Cases of Bacterial Food Contamination > Sponsored content. 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There is no cost and no subscription requirement. by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) May 21, 2013 11:00 AM UTC  Germany, Bavaria, Munich, Scientists in greenhouse examining parsley plant Germany, Bavaria, Munich, Scientists in greenhouse examining parsley plant Getty Images/Westend61 by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) May 21, 2013 11:00 AM UTC Foodborne illnesses are a continuing problem in the U.S., but labs that are supposed to detect the presence of pathogens aren’t up to snuff, according to a new report. more The analysis, presented at the 113th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, revealed worrisome gaps in the ability of [food](http://topics.time.com/food/) laboratories to detect or rule out the presence of common disease-causing bacteria such as _E. coli_, _Salmonella_, _Listeria_, and _Campylobacter_. The study involved about 40,000 food laboratory proficiency tests conducted over the last 14 years and showed that food microbiology laboratories that are supposed to identify pathogens in food submit a disturbing number of false negative and false positive results. The data was compiled by the American Proficiency Institute (API), a private institute that monitors the accuracy of bacterial testing among labs that voluntarily submit to the review. (**MORE:** [Food Safety: CDC Report Shows Rates of Foodborne Illness Remain Largely Unchanged](http://healthland.time.com/2013/04/22/cdc-food-safety-report-card/)) API’s reviews occur up to three times a year and assess both the accuracy of the labs’ testing methods and the competency of their testing personnel. The tests determine, for example, whether the laboratory technicians can correctly identify pathogens that API officials add to food sample–or the absence of any bacteria. Over the 14 year study period, API determined that on average, food laboratories had a false negative result rate (failing to identify the presence of a pathogen) of 9.1% for _Campylobacter_ and 4.9% for _Salmonella_. On average, the labs reported false positive results (suggesting bacteria was in a food sample when it wasn’t) in 3.9% of cases for _Salmonella_ and 2.5% for _E. coli_ and _L. monocytogenes_. Currently, API says that its testing is used in over 700 food laboratories in 43 countries. Widespread monitoring, its scientists say, could lead to more reliable and standardized monitoring for common food contaminants and ensure a safer food supply in the U.S., as well as lower rates of food related illness. And addressing such foodborne disease remains an important public health concern; last month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) [reported](http://healthland.time.com/2013/04/22/cdc-food-safety-report-card/) that about one in six people in the United States gets sick from eating contaminated food, and that rate has not declined in seven years. Data from the FoodNet program, which tracks infections of nine of the most prevalent bacteria in food, including Listeria, salmonella, and E.coli, showed that although contamination rates have dropped since 1990, they have remained stagnant since 2006\. In 2012, the FoodNet program identified 19,500 infections, including 4,500 hospitalizations and 68 deaths; these infection rates from the nine most common pathogens had not significantly changed since the previous analysis from 2006 to 2008. (**MORE:** [After Year-Long Delay, FDA Proposes Major Regulations For Food Safety](http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/07/after-year-long-delay-fda-proposes-major-regulations-for-food-safety/)) While improving the consistency of lab testing for pathogens that can contaminate food is an important step toward improving food safety, it won’t be enough. To lower rates of foodborne illnesses, the study authors, as well as public health experts hope that two draft [proposals](http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm334156.htm?source=govdelivery) released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ([FDA](http://topics.time.com/fda/)) in January will help to standardize methods of preventing bacterial exposure. The proposals are part of the [Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)](http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/fsma/default.htm) that President Obama signed in 2011. (**MORE:** [Bad Food: Illnesses from Imported Foods Are on the Rise, CDC Says](http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/15/bad-food-illnesses-from-imported-food-are-on-the-rise-cdc-says/)) One, entitled [Preventive Controls for Human Food](http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/ucm334115.htm) calls for manufacturers selling food in the U.S., even if the products were grown abroad, to develop formal rules for preventing contamination of their products and to establish systems for correcting any problems that do occur. The second proposal, [Standards for Produce Safety](http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FSMA/ucm334114.htm) concerns produce, and mandates stricter hygienic standards for workers handling produce as well as stronger requirements to maintain sanitary conditions during growing, harvesting, packing and storing processes. The rules also call for stricter monitoring of [animals](http://topics.time.com/animals/) that can enter crop fields. The rules are still open to public comment until September 16\. You can read more, and comment on the proposals, [here](http://www.fda.gov/Food/guidanceregulation/FSMA/ucm334115.htm). **MORE:** [Is It Worth Buying Organic? Maybe Not](http://healthland.time.com/2012/09/04/is-organic-food-more-nutritious-and-healthier-than-conventional-varieties/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7136094/labs-fail-to-detect-cases-of-bacterial-food-contamination/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7136094/labs-fail-to-detect-cases-of-bacterial-food-contamination/"},"headline":"Labs Fail to Detect Cases of Bacterial Food Contamination","datePublished":"2013-05-21T11:00:15.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-16T10:00:13.148Z","description":"Foodborne illnesses are a continuing problem in the U.S., but labs that are supposed to detect the presence of pathogens aren't up to snuff, according...","url":"https://time.com/archive/7136094/labs-fail-to-detect-cases-of-bacterial-food-contamination/","keywords":["CDC","Salmonella","infection"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta673eb1265e10882/698a92b2457a5204e1d7062e/163251843.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"TIME Staff","url":"https://time.com/author/time-staff/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta673eb1265e10882/698a92b2457a5204e1d7062e/163251843.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"163251843","caption":"163251843","creditText":"Getty Images/Westend61","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/archive/7136094/labs-fail-to-detect-cases-of-bacterial-food-contamination/","name":"Labs Fail to Detect Cases of Bacterial Food Contamination"}}]}] ```