food-borne disease

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food‐borne disease Infectious or toxic disease caused by agents that enter the body through the consumption of food. The causative agents may be present in food as a result of infection of animals from which food is prepared or contamination at source or during manufacture, storage, and preparation.

There are three main categories: (1)diseases caused by micro‐organisms (including parasites) that invade and multiply in the body; (2)diseases caused by toxins produced by micro‐organisms growing in the gastro‐intestinal tract;(3)diseases caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with poisonous chemicals or containing natural toxins or the toxins produced by micro‐organisms in the food. See also food poisoning.