According to the CDC’s foodborne illness cost calculator, E. coli O157:H7 infected patients who develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) cost the US a total of about $350,000,000 a year (2008). That roughly works out to $1,000,000 per patient. While these costs are mind boggling, they unfortunately are not very accurate a measure of the devastating impact of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The costs do not include future expenses such as long term therapy and special education classes or intangible expenses such as the anguish of watching a family member battle hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or the agony of having to endure the traumatic disease. Companies working to maximize profits all the while minimizing safety aren’t just pushing an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers but they are victimizing innocent people. It is a business model that just makes no sense yet we continue to see people hurt by this business model every day.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2010
