The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that there has been no significant change in infection rates of nine food-borne illnesses, including salmonella and E. coli since 2004.

Dr. Robert Tauxe, deputy director of the CDC division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases said: "Progress has plateaued. This indicates to us further measures are needed to prevent future illness."

Tauxe says there has been "no change" in reports of lab-confirmed food-borne illnesses since 2005, and "little significant change" since 2004.

The report presented by the CDC's Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, or FoodNet, was based on data collected from 10 states on nine infectious organisms. Report showed that infection rates were highest among children under 4 years old, whereas hospitalizations and fatality rates were highest for people over 50.

Dr. David Acheson, associate commissioner for foods said: "The FDA is embarking on an aggressive and proactive approach in protecting and enforcing the safety of the U. S. food supply."

"The FoodNet data indicates a need for a different approach to safeguard the food supply, and the FDA is committed to make the necessary changes to keep unsafe products out of the marketplace before they reach consumers."