Lecture 12: Food borne illness outbreak- case study

What is the definition of food safety?

Food safety is the scientific discipline that involves handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness.

What is the definition of food defense?

Food defense refers to efforts made to protect food from acts of intentional adulteration, such as contamination or sabotage.

How does food safety differ from food defense?

Food safety focuses on preventing foodborne illness through proper food handling, preparation, and storage, while food defense focuses on protecting food from intentional contamination or malicious actions.

What is the estimated annual incidence of foodborne illness in the United States?

Approximately 48 million people contract foodborne illness in the United States each year, according to the CDC.

What are the consequences of foodborne illness in the U.S. each year?

Foodborne illnesses in the U.S. result in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths annually.

What is the economic impact of foodborne illness in the U.S.?

Foodborne illnesses cost the U.S. $152 billion annually in healthcare and related expenses.

How does foodborne illness impact children globally?

The WHO's first-ever global estimates of foodborne diseases show that children under the age of 5 account for almost one-third of the deaths from foodborne illness worldwide.

What are the two broad classifications of foodborne illness?

The two broad classifications are infections and intoxications.

How do infections cause foodborne illness?

Infections are caused by the growth of microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites, in the body. These microorganisms invade tissues, multiply, and directly damage surrounding tissues.

How do intoxications cause foodborne illness?

Intoxications are caused by the ingestion of food that is already contaminated with toxins. The illness occurs from the consumption of preformed toxins, not the bacteria themselves.

What is the primary mechanism behind infections causing foodborne illness?

Infections occur when viruses, bacteria, or parasites invade the intestinal mucosa or other tissues, multiply, and cause direct damage to surrounding tissues. An example is Salmonella.

What is the primary mechanism behind intoxications causing foodborne illness?

Intoxications occur when bacteria or viruses invade and multiply in the intestinal tract and release toxins, which then damage tissues or interfere with organ function.

What are some sources of toxins that cause foodborne intoxications?

Toxins can come from certain bacteria, poisonous chemicals, and naturally occurring toxins found in animals, plants, or fungi.

What is the role of bacteria in foodborne intoxications?

Some bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, release toxins into food as they grow. The preformed toxin is ingested, meaning the live bacteria do not need to be consumed to cause illness.

Why do intoxications typically manifest more rapidly than infections?

Intoxications manifest more quickly because the preformed toxins are already present in the food. No time is needed for the bacteria to grow and invade the intestinal lining, unlike in infections.