Contribution of Foods and Poor Food-Handling Practices to the Burden of Foodborne Infectious Diseases in France

• Main Authors: Jean-Christophe Augustin, Pauline Kooh, Thomas Bayeux, Laurent Guillier, Thierry Meyer, Nathalie Jourdan-Da Silva, Isabelle Villena, Moez Sanaa, Olivier Cerf, on Behalf of the Anses Working Group on Consumer Information on Foodborne Biological Risks
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
• Series: Foods
• Subjects: foodborne disease burden; food safety; foodborne pathogens; food-handling practices
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/11/1644

The foodborne disease burden (FBDB) related to 26 major biological hazards in France was attributed to foods and poor food-handling practices at the final food preparation step, in order to develop effective intervention strategies, especially food safety campaigns.<i> Campylobacter</i> spp. and non-typhoidal <i>Salmonella</i> accounted for more than 60% of the FBDB. Approximately 30% of the FBDB were attributed to 11 other hazards including bacteria, viruses and parasites. Meats were estimated as the main contributing food category causing (50–69%) (CI90) of the FBDB with (33–44%), (9–21%), (4–20%) (CI90) of the FBDB for poultry, pork and beef, respectively. Dairy products, eggs, raw produce and complex foods caused each approximately (5–20%) (CI90) of the FBDB. When foods are contaminated before the final preparation step, we estimated that inadequate cooking, cross-contamination and inadequate storage contribute for (19–49%), (7–34%) and (9–23%) (CI90) of the FBDB, respectively; (15–33%) (CI90) of the FBDB were attributed to the initial contamination of ready-to-eat foods—without any contribution from final food handlers. The thorough implementation of good hygienic practices (GHPs) at the final food preparation step could potentially reduce the FBDB by (67–85%) (CI90) (mainly with the prevention of cross-contamination and adequate cooking and storage).