From what I understand, from the numbers that I've seen from the USDA, there are more instances, because more people are reporting. It's similar to food-borne illness, where people get flu-like symptoms and don't report it. They just tough it out and stay home. Now people are actually reporting it; doctors are reporting it. I think more testing is being done and more reporting is being done, which is translating into higher numbers. But the food is safer today than it was 15 or 20 years ago, absolutely.
On June 1st, 2009. See this statement in context.