Predicting the next food that will cause an epidemic in America

The Peanut Butter Panic of 09 has caused the recall of many packaged products, not to mention several deaths. The FDA believes it has the one and only cause in Peanut Corporation of America (I’m not so sure) and they’re working on containing products.

That leaves the question, after the peanut butter panic passes, what potential foods might lead to illnesses the way tomatoes jalapenos and peanut butter has this year?

Here’s my five choices along with my personal odds that they’ll be the FDA’s next headache.

Honey (20-1 odds)
Why worry? More than a third of all honey comes from China and much of that is brought in to country illegally. After a five-month investigation, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer broke a story about “tons of Chinese honey coming into the U.S. is tainted with banned antibiotics” like chloramphenicol.

Why not to worry? The traces of antibiotics have been small (though still harmful) and while the problem is thought to be widespread, there’s no epidemic of cases. Honey is also extremely resistant to bacteria and mold, as shown by the fact it has an indefinite shelf life.