Objective To study the epidemiological characteristics of foodborne diseases in the areas covered by National Foodborne Diseases Surveillance Network in 2004.Method The foodborne disease data collected by National Foodborne Diseases Surveillance Network in 2004 were analyzed.Results There were 612 outbreaks of foodborne diseases reported from 13 provinces in 2004,which caused illness in 14 980 persons and death in 48.Among outbreaks for which the epiology was determined,microbial pathogens caused the largest percentage of outbreaks(47.5%)and the largest percentage of cases(71.0%);chemical agents,30.3% of outbreaks and 15.2% of cases;and animal and plant agents,21.5% of outbreaks and 13.4% of cases.Vibrio parahaemolyticus was the most important microbial pathogen.Conclusion As discovered by National Foodborne Diseases Surveillance Network,microbial foodborne disease remains a major public health problem in China.