Zoonoses in the Food Chain.

Zoonoses originate from pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, or prions that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Some well-known examples of zoonotic diseases are rabies, bird flu, anthrax, and salmonellosis. These diseases are often hidden in food supply chains, posing a serious threat to human health. Zoonoses can be transmitted in a variety of ways, including through animal bites, direct contact with infected animals, or the consumption of contaminated animal products.

The spread of zoonoses through the food supply chain can pose a threat to human health. Animal products such as meat, milk and eggs can be a medium for zoonotic pathogens if not handled properly.

Read Also: World Zoonoses Day July 6, Awareness Must Be Raised

1. Salmonellosis: This disease is caused by Salmonella bacteria which can be found in raw meat, eggs and unpasteurized dairy products. Consuming food contaminated with Salmonella can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.

2. E. coli: Certain Escherichia coli bacteria, especially the E. coli O157 strain, can cause serious illness in humans. This bacteria is often found in poorly cooked beef, raw milk, and vegetables contaminated by animal feces

3. Brucellosis: The disease is caused by Brucella bacteria that can be transmitted through the consumption of raw milk or unpasteurized dairy products. Symptoms of brucellosis include fever, night sweats and joint pain.

4. Campylobacter: It is a Gram-negative bacterium that lives in the digestive tract of warm-blooded animals. This bacteria can be found in food of animal origin because it is contaminated with animal feces during food processing.

1. Meat : Food of animal origin such as meat is a perishable food, this is because meat contains nutritional elements that are good enough for the growth of microorganisms, especially bacteria, so that it will have an impact on the shelf life and quality of the final product.

2. Egg: Raw or undercooked eggs can also contain bacteria such as Salmonella, which can cause food poisoning if not cooked properly.

3. Milk/Dairy: Milk, if not properly pasteurized, can be a good medium for disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites such as brucellosis, listeriosis and campylobacteriosis to survive and transmit to humans through consumption.

4. Fish : There are several types of zoonotic nematode parasitic diseases that originate from marine fish, one of which is anisakiasis.

The spread of zoonoses through the food supply chain can pose a threat to human health. Animal products such as meat, milk and eggs can be a medium for zoonotic pathogens if not handled properly.

Read Also : Improving Farm Animal Welfare

1. Hygiene and Sanitation:  Ensuring hygiene at all stages of food production, from farm to table, is essential. This includes good sanitation practices on farms, hygienic food processing and personal hygiene.

2. Pasteurization: Dairy products must be pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria such as Brucella and Salmonella.

3. Adequate Heating:  Cooking animal foods at the right temperature can kill many pathogens. For example, beef must be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 70°C to kill E. coli.

4. Supervision and Regulation:  Governments and health regulatory agencies must ensure that food safety standards are strictly implemented and monitored. This includes regular inspections of farms
and food processing facilities, rph surveillance, meat import regulations, etc.

5. Consumer Education:  Consumers should be provided with sufficient information on how to safely handle and cook animal products. This education can be done through public health campaigns and labeling on food products.

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