Critically analyse the statement – “Food-borne diseases is an increasing threat to human health which slow down socio-economic development by straining health care systems and harming national economies, tourism and trade”.
Structure of answer:
- Introduction (Say about WHO findings and some general point about disease).
- Key finding in report.
- About disease.
- Impact of disease.
- Way forward (What need to be done).
- Conclusion.
Key points:
- Foodborne diseases encompass a wide spectrum of illnesses and are a growing public health
problem worldwide.
- They are the result of ingestion of foodstuffs contaminated with microorganisms or chemicals.
- The contamination of food may occur at any stage in the process from food production to
consumption (“farm to fork”) and can result from environmental contamination, including
pollution of water, soil or air.
- The most common clinical presentation of foodborne disease takes the form of gastrointestinal
symptoms; however, such diseases can also have neurological, gynaecological, immunological and
other symptoms.
- Multiorgan failure and even cancer may result from the ingestion of contaminated foodstuffs,
thus representing a considerable burden of disability as well as mortality.
- Children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the food-borne disease burden with 1,25,000 deaths
every year.
