Foodborne Illness in the Elderly
Open accessAbstract
The elderly (> or = 65 years of age) are more susceptible to morbidity and mortality from foodborne-induced gastroenteritis than younger individuals. Several factors contribute to the increased susceptibility to foodborne infections as well as other infections in elderly populations. These include an age-associated decrease in humoral and cellular immunity, age-related changes in the gastrointestinal tract (decreased production of gastric acid and decreased intestinal motility), malnutrition, lack of exercise, entry into nursing homes, and excessive use of antibiotics. Data from foodborne outbreaks associated with nursing homes indicate that the elderly are more likely to die from foodborne Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus infections than the general population. Infections by Salmonella species are the most common cause of illness and death in nursing homes with Salmonella enteritidis as the major cause of both morbidity and mortality. While it is impossible to turn back the clock, practicing a healthy life-style with regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, receiving regular health care, paying attention to personal hygiene, and monitoring food preparation and handling should lead to a reduced incidence of foodborne and other infections in the elderly.
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Spoiled food is a health risk, particularly for young children and people over age 65.
“Spoiled food is a health risk, particularly for young children with under-developed immune systems, as well as for people over age 65 who may experience age-related declines in sensory function and must rely on date labels. [62, 63]”
From Relationship between food waste, diet quality, and environmental sustainability (2018) · cites this paper as [63]
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“outside the home who do not have time to prepare meals, and more people studying or working away from home), which means that more people are at risk for FBD (5, 15, 23, 26).”
BackgroundYasmin, S., Pogreba-Brown, K., Stewart, J., et al. (2013) · Journal of Public Health Management and Practice · doi:10.1097/phh.0b013e31829a2cf5 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“9) This rapid public health response likely prevented additional illnesses in a population at a greater risk of complications from GI illness.(7) This investigation confirms findings from previous studies that demonstrate distinct advantages of online survey use by local public health departments, including decreased…”
ResultWhitehill, F., Stapleton, G. S., Koski, L., et al. (2022) · Zoonoses and Public Health · doi:10.1111/zph.12911 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“…contact exposures— such as species of poultry contacted, keeping poultry inside the home, reason for purchasing poultry and hand hygiene practices— as risk factors for severe NTS outcomes among older adults (Chen et al., 2016; Chui et al., 2009; Thuluvath & McKendrick, 1988; Turgeon et al., 2017).”
BackgroundFood Safety Practices of Homebound Seniors Receiving Home-Delivered Meals
McWilliams, R. M., Hallman, W. K., Cuite, C. L., Senger‐Mersich, A., Sastri, N., Netterville, L., & Byrd‐Bredbenner, C. (2017) · Topics in Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1097/tin.0000000000000117 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
SteelFisher, G. K., Blendon, R. J., Hero, J. O., et al. (2013) · Journal of Food Safety · doi:10.1111/jfs.12035 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
MacDonald, E., Guzmán-Herrador, B., Hyllestad, S., et al. (2016) · Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal · doi:10.26719/2016.22.12.910 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Elderly people are predisposed to a greater frequency and severity of infections than the general population due to factors such as the presence of multiple underlying medical conditions, a weakened immune system, malnutrition, age-related changes in the gastrointestinal tract, the concurrent use of different medicine…”
BackgroundFoodborne Diseases: Foodborne Diseases and Vulnerable Groups
Rocourt, J. (2014) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-378612-8.00080-9 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Barceloux, D. G. (2008) · doi:10.1002/9780470330319.ch16 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Eat clean and safe food: a food-based dietary guideline for the elderly in South Africa
Miller, M., Oldewage-Theron, W. H., & Napier, C. E. (2021) · South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1080/16070658.2021.1947040 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“In addition to immune deficiency, a combination of other factors increases elderly individuals’ risk of infection.(4)”
BackgroundInfluentialWohlgenant, K. C., Cates, S. C., Godwin, S., et al. (2012) · Educational Gerontology · doi:10.1080/03601277.2011.645429 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“…infections include weakened immune systems, poor nutrition, loss of mobility, decreased food consumption, major surgeries, and use of certain medications—including antimotility drugs to relieve diarrhea, antacids, and some antibiotics (Buzby, 2002; Kendall, Hillers, & Medeiros, 2006; Smith, 1998).”
BackgroundGettings, M. A. (2016) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-100348-0.00015-9 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Hogan, G., Zai, B., Papadopoulos, A., O’Doherty, K. C., & Grant, L. E. (2025) · Journal of Health Equity · doi:10.1080/29944694.2025.2535483 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Wohlgenant, K. C., Godwin, S., Cates, S. C., et al. (2015) · Journal of Biomedical Education · doi:10.1155/2015/513586 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
McOrist, A. L., Veuilett, G., Vuaran, M. S., et al. (2005) · Canadian Journal of Microbiology · doi:10.1139/w05-021 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“It is not possible to speculate on the wider meaning of this finding, except to note that older people are considered more susceptible to gastrointestinal infection (Smith 1998).”
Background
- Authors
- Smith, J. L.
- Affiliations
- Eastern Regional Research Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Smith, James L.
- Venue
- Journal of Food Protection
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1998-09
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1229-1239
- ISSN
- 0362-028X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W185957740
- Cited by
- 145
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 4.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Food Protection (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food Safety and Hygiene
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Listeria monocytogenes in Food Safety
- Keywords
- food poisoning, older adults, foodborne gastroenteritis, immunosenescence, nursing homes, Salmonella Enteritidis, Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, malnutrition, antibiotic use, food safety, infection susceptibility
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Disease Susceptibility, Food Microbiology, Foodborne Diseases, Humans
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