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Food pollution: a comprehensive review of chemical and biological sources of food contamination and impact on human health

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Abstract

Background

Safe food production is a vital part of providing nutrient-dense food to meet consumer demand. The production and distribution of food is a multistep system from farm to fork, with the potential for food contamination at many stages on-route. Chemical contamination from agriculture and aquaculture, food packaging and disinfection and biological contamination with pathogenic organisms represent a significant threat to public health safety. The aim of this comprehensive review was to outline such issues and the consequences of food contamination for consumer health.

Main text

The extensive use of pesticides and agrochemicals in particular are an important part of agricultural systems and public health. Reports show that children are particularly at risk from foodborne pollution from chemicals such as pesticides. Even with the implementation of maximal residual levels and a ban on certain chemical pollutants, the risk of the disease still remains as such chemicals persist in the natural environment. Additionally, the presence of antimicrobial resistance amongst foodborne pathogens highlights the importance of preventing this route of disease transmission.

Conclusion

Food pollution represents a serious issue globally, as the pressure on food production systems increases to match the increasing demand for food. As such, food poisoning resulting from the ingestion of contaminated food with either chemical or biological pollutants represents a significant challenge and public safety issue. The magnitude of this threat and its implications for human morbidity and mortality is not fully understood as new issues are constantly emerging.

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  1. Department of Life Science, Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ash Lane, Sligo, Ireland

    Mary Garvey

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Correspondence to Mary Garvey.

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Garvey, M. Food pollution: a comprehensive review of chemical and biological sources of food contamination and impact on human health. Nutrire 44, 1 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41110-019-0096-3

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