October 13, 2000

CDC Updates List of Infectious Food Borne Diseases

by Joshua Lipsky

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its list of infectious and communicable diseases that are transmitted through handling in the food supply and the methods by which these diseases are transmitted. The updated list appeared in the Sept. 27 Federal Register.

According to the notice, the contamination of raw ingredients from infected food-producing animals and cross-contamination during processing are more prevalent causes of food-borne disease than is contamination of foods by persons with infectious or contagious diseases.

However, some pathogens are frequently transmitted by food contaminated by infected persons. The failure of food-handlers to practice proper sanitary practices is responsible for the food borne transmission of these pathogens.

For CDC’s complete list of infectious and communicable diseases that are transmissible through food handling log onto CDC.gov.

This article reprinted with permission from Meat Marketing and Technology Magazine.

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