Safety Weeks 2022 16th Edition
MTAs are mostly acute diseases associated with the consumption of food and beverages contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms and/or their toxins. Over time, so called emergentmicroorganisms (Campylobacter, E. coli STEC, etc.) have been added to the classic pathogens due to the changes undergone by the food chain, starting from the increase in the number of intensive farms to the globalization of the markets of raw materials and food products and the increasing tendency to travel and eat out, resorting to collective catering.
These social changes have been accompanied by the evolution of food safety legislation, which has imposed a chain control system, from primary production to marketing and administration. Activity consisting of official control carried out by the competent Health Authorities, also aimed at limiting the risk of MTA events, especially in the field of food production, storage, processing, trade and administration.
MTAs pose a serious threat to public health, second only to chronic degenerative diseases in Europe.
The figure shows the study and distribution of food poisoning outbreaks recorded in Lazio in 2016 and 2017. It should be noted that the domestic environment affected 32% of the episodes, constituting (although together with restaurants, bars etc.) the place of consumption where MTAs occur most frequently.
For this reason, it is very important to target the general population (consumers), a targeted information activity by proposing useful advice to increase awareness of the risk from MTA and therefore useful for the promotion of behaviours conducive to the reduction of events.
Therefore, the ASL of Frosinone, as a further strategy for the control of the danger of foodborne diseases, especially in the home, proposes the following information brochure prepared by the Ministry of Health on foodborne diseases and aimed at consumers.
