Foodborne illness

Foodborne illness or food poisoning is caused by consuming food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, toxins, viruses, prions or parasites. Such contamination usually arises from improper handling, preparation or storage of food. Foodborne illness can also be caused by adding pesticides or medicines to food, or by accidentally consuming naturally poisonous substances like poisonous mushrooms or reef fish. Contact between food and pests, especially flies, rodents and cockroaches, is a further cause of contamination of food.

External links

• Foodborne diseases, emerging, WHO, Fact sheet N°124, revised January 2002
• Food safety and foodborne illness, WHO, Fact sheet N°237, revised January 2002
• UK Health protection Agency
• US PulseNet
• Nottingham Trent University Foodborne illness research data
• US CDC food poisoning guide
• Safe Tables Our Priority (S.T.O.P.)