3/3: FL spends nearly $10 billion a year on food-borne illnesses

Tampa Tribune: Florida spends nearly $10 billion a year on food-borne illnesses

A nationwide review on contaminated food has been released today by the Produce Safety Project, an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts. In the U.S., food-borne illnesses such as e. Coli and salmonella cost the nation $152 billion a year. Florida's portion of that is nearly $10 billion, representing 4.9 million people. The average cost of treating a patient with a food-borne illness is $1,984, the second-highest in the nation.

This report comes as the U.S. Senate considers legislation that would require more government inspections of food manufacturers and give the FDA new authority to order recalls, among other things.

"The takeaway message from the report is that this estimate demonstrates that food-borne illness is a serious burden to our society," said Sandra Eskin, director of Pew's food safety campaign.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate votes 19-16 in favor of legalizing electronic bingo

ARKANSAS: State officials say sexual assault claims are under-reported

GEORGIA: Poll says voters prefer increased tobacco tax over cuts in education

KENTUCKY: U.S. Sen. Bunning backs down from blockade on unemployment benefits

LOUISIANA: Glitch keeps state out of 17-state education alliance to improve graduation rates

MISSISSIPPI: Residents upset over prospect of no Saturday postal service

NORTH CAROLINA: Long standing school diversity policy voted down in Wake County

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's electric co-ops to study most cost-effective home energy solutions

TENNESSEE: State gets new reputation as a leader in education reform

VIRGINIA: House budget would cut 19 judgeships

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