[...]according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimate, 2-3% of pathogen-related foodborne illness may lead to secondary long-term illnesses such as meningitis from Listeria infection or kidney failure in young children as a result of E. coli O157:H7 infection. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA ERS) estimated in 2000 the medical costs, costs of premature deaths and losses in productivity resulting from five major foodborne pathogens—Campylobacter, Salmonella (nontyphoidal), E. coli O157, E. coli non-O157 STEC, and Listeria monocytogenes—at $6.9 billion. The most significant common food vehicles for Campylobacter jejuni or coli are poultry and swine, and the pathogen also has been associated with milk, mushrooms, clams, hamburger, water, cheese, pork, shellfish, eggs and cake icing. www.fsis.usda.gov/OPHS/nacmcf/rep_campy.htm Updated in July, this report page details the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria For Foods’ (NACMCF) Campylobacter Subcommittee’s latest charge pertaining to advances and use of laboratory methods for identification and quantification of the pathogen.