The cases of food poisoning occurred in Shandong province,China from 1984 to 2000 were analysed for reference to the prevention of food poisoning.In the 17 years,1 438 cases of food poisoning occurred,42 629 people were poisoned and 245 people died.The average morbidity rate a year was 31 5 per million and the mortality rate was 0 57%.The food poisonings occurred mainly in the second and third quarter of a year,during which the cases,number of victims and morbidity accounted for 79 54%,82 12% and 53 75%,respectively of the yearly total.Most food poisonings were caused by street foods in which the number of cases and victims were 599 and 17 416.The number of death (67 76% of total death) resulted from food poisoning at home ranked first,and most of them occurred in rural areas.The food poisonings were mainly caused by unsanitary meats and meat products which was 4 times that by plant foods,and accounted for 75 17% of total cases.Microorganisms and their toxin,chemicals,toxic animal and plant were main factors resulting in food poisoning,and 47 76% of total death were caused by chemicals.Though the cases,number of poisoning and number of death resulting from food poisoning have been declining yearly,the loss in lives and property was still serious.We should pay more attention to inspection of food supply,especially the food made and sold in rural areas,and implement the law of food hygiene strictly for reducing food poisoning.