The economic impact of an outbreak of food-borne salmonellosis affecting approximately 125 individuals was estimated at $28,733. The largest portion of this was lost salaries and productivity of ill wage earners, totaling $18,413. Costs for medical care and the health department's investigation of the outbreak, and the financial burden on the owner of the implicated restaurant accounted for the remainder of the economic consequences. It is estimated that food-borne illness has an annual economic cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Minnesota, where this outbreak occurred. The costs of measures that may have prevented this and other foodborne outbreaks are much lower. (JAMA230:1281-1282, 1974)