Foodborne illness has been a great public health concern of late. Society has enjoyed the benefits of industrialized food production, distribution, processing, and warehousing that have made it possible to bring food to many community grocery stores through out the nation. However, the down side of industrial production and distribution is that contaminants are easily spread hundreds of miles form the initial point source. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 76 million cases of foodborne illness occur each year with more than 300,000 people hospitalized, yet critical tracking of foodborne illnesses is not automatic. Ten states collect data for the CDC’s FoodNet surveillance program to examine the incidence of infections, indicating a gap in information from other states. In addition, the CDC points out that the reduction of pathogens did not reach the target expectation of Health People 2010 in 2008.The epidemiologic implication of spreading infection through food indicates a significant vulnerability in food safety. Food safety is given due attention when illness and death from a pathogen dot the landscape and become apparent. In other words, as the body count increases, so does concern about the seriousness of protecting food sources. Certainly, enforcing current regulations is a must, but one has to ask what more can be done? The solution is comprehensive, and prevention is a strategic key to protecting public health and advocating for necessary funding. Perhaps advocacy for public health funding maybe strengthen by arguing the strategic necessity of funding public health issue is to ensure the nations security by reducing illness and increasing productive years.

Gaps in protecting food sources:

• Regulations/laws
• Inspections
• Industry self testing and monitoring
• FoodNet Surveillance (10 states)

Resolving gaps in protection:

• Integrating testing results
• Automatic data collection from all states
• Integration with exiting public health surveillance
• Mapping 

References

Center for Disease Control and Protection (2009). Food Safety Office. Retrieved May 25, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/  

Department of Agriculture (2006).   Food Safety and Inspection Services. May 25, 2009 from http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/rdad/frpubs/04-026n.pdf

United State Department of Agriculture (2008). Food Safety and Inspection Service retrieved May 27, 2009 from http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/federal_inspection_programs/index.asp