What is Foodborne Illness?

Commonly known as food poisoning, foodborne illness is caused by eating food that is contaminated by bacteria or other harmful substances.

How does food become hazardous?

Food becomes hazardous by contamination. Contamination is the unintended presence of harmful substances or microorganisms in food. Food can become contaminated from:

Chemical hazards

Physical hazards

Biological hazards

What is “cross contamination?”

Cross-contamination is the transportation of harmful substances to food by:

What conditions encourage bacteria to grow?

Warm Neutral-slightly acidic pH

Moist Protein-rich

41°F (5°C) and 135°F (57°C)

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Food Safety
Overview
Organisms
History
Epidemiology
Transmission
Foodborne illness
Prevention and Control
Organisms
Estimated 250 foodborne pathogens
2 or more cases of a similar illness resulting from ingestion of a common food
Bacteria most common cause
Also viruses, parasites, natural and manufactured chemicals, and toxins from organisms
Foodborne disease outbreaks, cases and deaths
1993-1997
Salmonella had the highest number
History
Early 1900’s
Contaminated food, milk and water caused many foodborne illnesses
Sanitary revolution
Sewage and water treatment
Hand-washing, sanitation
Pasteurization of milk- 1908
Refrigeration in homes- 1913
History
Animals identified as a source of foodborne pathogens
Improved animal care and feeding
Improved carcass processing
Surveillance and research
Outbreak investigations
Laws and policies regarding food handling
Epidemiology
Foodborne diseases each year in US
Affects 1 in 4 Americans
76 million illnesses
325,000 hospitalizations
5,000 deaths
1,500 of those deaths caused by Salmonella, Listeria, and Toxoplasma
Epidemiology
Many unrecognized or unreported
Mild disease undetected
Same pathogens in water and person to person
Emerging pathogens unidentifiable
Greatest risk
Elderly
Children
Immunocompromised
Surveillance/Regulation
Surveillance
CDC
FoodNet and PulseNet
Regulation
FDA
Domestic and imported food
USDA FSIS
Meat, eggs, poultry
National Marine Fisheries Service
Surveillance
FoodNet: Active surveillance
Established 1996
CDC, USDA, FDA, select state health departments
Nine sites in U.S. monitor 13% of U.S. population
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Tennessee
Surveillance
PulseNet: Identify cause
Molecular fingerprinting
45 state public health labs certified
Passive surveillance: Survey methods
Hospital discharges
Outpatient treatment facilities
FoodBorne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System
All states submit outbreak data
Estimated Cost
Economic Research Service – USDA
Cost of top 5 foodborne pathogens
$6.9 billion annually
Medical cost
Productivity losses (missed work)
Value estimate of premature death
Transmission
Oral route
Contamination varies
Organism, reservoir, handling/processing, cross-contamination
Human reservoir
Norwalk-like virus, Campylobacter, Shigella
Animal reservoir
Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli 0157:H7, Listeria, and Toxoplasma
Transmission
Contamination can occur at several points along the food chain
On the farm or in the field
At the slaughter plant
During processing
At the point of sale
In the home
Produce Processing
Important Organisms
Norwalk-like viruses
Campylobacter
Salmonella
E. coli O157:H7
Clostridium botulinum
Shigella spp
Toxoplasma
Emerging organisms
Norwalk-like Viruses
Norovirus; Caliciviridae family
Most common foodborne agent
23 million cases annually
Sources
Person-to-person
Shed in human feces, vomitus
Outbreaks in daycares, nursing homes, cruise ships
Contaminated shellfish
Norwalk-like Viruses
Small infectious dose
Signs
12-48 hours post-exposure
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps
Headache, low-grade fever
Duration: 2 days
Food handlers should not return to work for 3 days after symptoms subside
Campylobacter jejuni
Leading cause of bacterial diarrhea
2.4 million people each year
Children under 5 years old
Young adults (ages 15-29)
Very few deaths
Can lead to Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Leading cause of acute paralysis
Develops 2-4 weeks after Campylobacter infection (after diarrheal signs disappear)
Campylobacteriosis
Sources
Raw or undercooked poultry
Non-chlorinated water
Raw milk
Infected animal or human feces
Poultry, cattle, puppies, kittens, pet birds
Clinical signs
Diarrhea, abdominal cramps,
fever, nausea
Duration: 2-5 days
Salmonellosis
Gram negative bacteria
Many serotypes can cause disease
S. enteritidis and typhimurium
41% of all human cases
Most common species in U.S.
1.4 million cases annually
580 deaths
Salmonellosis
Sources
Raw poultry and eggs
Raw milk
Raw beef
Unwashed fruit, alfalfa sprouts
Reptile pets: Snakes, turtles, lizards
Signs
Onset: 12-72 hours
Diarrhea, fever, cramps
Duration: 4-7 days
E. coli O157:H7
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)
Surface proteins; toxin
Sources
Undercooked or raw hamburger; salami
Alfalfa sprouts; lettuce
Unpasteurized milk, apple juice or cider
Well water
Animals: Cattle, other mammals
E. coli O157:H7
Signs
Watery or bloody diarrhea, nausea, cramps
Onset: 2-5 days
Duration: 5-10 days
Sequela
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Acute kidney failure in children
Life threatening
Botulism
Clostridium botulinum
Neurotoxin leads to flaccid paralysis
Infants at greatest risk
Annually: 10-30 outbreaks; ~110 cases
Sources: Home-canned
foods, honey
Signs
Double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty speaking and swallowing
Onset: 18-36 hours
Shigellosis
Bacillary dysentery
Most cases Shigella sonnei
90,000 cases every year in U.S.
Sources:
Human fecal contamination of food, beverages, vegetables, water
Signs:
Watery or bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramps, fever
Onset: 2 days
Duration: 5-7 days
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma gondii- intracellular protozoan
112,500 cases annually
Pregnant women/immunocompromised at greatest risk
Sources
Infected cats, soil, undercooked meat
Signs
Fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes
Emerging Pathogens
Cyclospora (Protozoan)
1996, imported raspberries
Listeria monocytogenes
Sources
Ready-to-eat meats, soft cheeses
Signs
Human abortions and stillbirths
Septicemia in young or low-immune
Prevention and Control
HACCP
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
To monitor and control production processes
Identify food safety hazards and critical control points
Production, processing and marketing
Establish limits
Monitor
Applied to meat, poultry, and eggs
On Farm Strategies
Testing and removal for Salmonella
Serologic, fecal culture, hide culture
Vaccinating
Many serotypes
Varying effectiveness
Minimize rodents, wild birds
Isolation of new animals
At the Slaughter Plant
FSIS target organisms
Salmonella and E. coli
Control points
Removal of internal organs
Minimize contact between carcasses
Proper movement through facilities
Chilling
Cooking processes (time, temperature)
Irradiation
Used since 1986 for Trichina control in pork
Gamma rays
Poultry in 1990/1992
Meat in 1997/1999
Reduction of bacterial pathogens
Kills living cells of organisms
Damaged and cannot survive
Irradiation
Identified with radura…..
Does not affect taste quality
Nutrients remain the same
Handle foods appropriately afterwards
Does not sterilize
Contamination can still occur
USDA Recall Classification
In the Home
Drink pasteurized milk and juices
Wash hands carefully and frequently
After using the bathroom
Changing infant’s diapers
Cleaning up animal feces
Wash hands before preparing food
In the Home
Wash raw fruits and vegetables before eating
After contact with raw meat or poultry
Wash hands, utensils and kitchen surfaces
Hot soapy water
Defrost meats in the refrigerator
In the Home
Cook beef/beef products thoroughly
Internal temperature of 160oF
Cook poultry and eggs thoroughly
Internal temperature of 170-180oF
Eat cooked food promptly
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours after cooking
Store in shallow containers
Additional Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/
U.S. Department of Agriculture
http://www.foodsafety.gov
http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/about-fnic
Acknowledgments

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