The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that food-borne illness
is the leading food safety concern because cases of food poisoning
far outnumber any other episodes of food contamination.
every single person in the world experiences a food-borne illness
at least once a year. Many don't realize they've experienced a bout
of food poisoning, however, because the symptoms are mistaken for
the "stomach flu". About 6.5 million cases of food poisoning
are reported each year in the United States alone with a higher
incidence in the summer months, and for about 9,000 individuals,
the food poisoning leads to death.
There are three general
types of foodborne illnesses:
- Infection: occurs
when live bacterial cells are ingested. These bacterial cells
can then grow in the digestive tract and cause symptoms. An example
of a bacterial infection is Salmonella infection.
- Intoxication: occurs
from eating a food that contains a toxin produced by bacteria.
An example of food intoxication is Clostridium botulinum
occurs when live bacterial cells are ingested which then produce
toxins in the body. An example of food intoxification is Clostridium