The Present State of Foodborne Disease in OECD Countries
ISBN: 92 4 159109 9
Introduction (from report)
Foodborne disease (FBD) has emerged as an important and growing public health and economic problem in many countries during the last two decades. Frequent outbreaks caused by new pathogens, the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and the transfer of antibiotic resistance to human, as well as the ongoing concerns about bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) are just a few examples. Countries with reporting systems have documented significant increases in the incidence (number of cases) of FBD during the two last decades. The significance of these increases is discussed later. It is estimated that each year FBD causes approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, 5,000 deaths in the USA and 2,366,000 cases, 21,138 hospitalizations, 718 deaths in England and Wales (Adak et al., 2002; Mead et al., 1999). It can be assumed, from the reported number of cases, that the burden of FBD is probably in the same order of magnitude in most countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Contamination of foods may occur through environmental pollution of the air, water and soil, such as the case with toxic metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins. Other chemical hazards, such as naturally occurring toxicants, may arise at various points during food production, harvest, processing and preparation. The contamination of food by chemical hazards is generally well controlled in OECD countries although such hazards remain a public health concern to many consumers. The safe use of various chemicals such as food additives, pesticides, veterinary drugs and other agro-chemicals is also largely assured in OECD countries by proper regulation, enforcement and monitoring. However, sporadic problems with chemical hazards continue to occur pointing to the need for constant vigilance with regard to both the levels of chemicals in the diet as well as their potential to cause adverse health effects in the population.