Long-Term Effects of Foodborne Pathogens

GROVE CITY, Pa.While the severity of acute foodborne disease varies greatly, depending on the pathogen and the vulnerability of the person infected, the impact of foodborne illness on children, as well as for the elderly and immune-suppressed is more likely to be serious and/or long-lasting, according to a new report from the Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention.

The report, which reviewed health outcomes of campylobacter, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and Toxoplasma gondii, concluded the long-term health burden of foodborne disease is not well understood and there are few guidelines for long-term medical care. Additional research is needed to improve our knowledge about these diseases so that we can better understand the impact that foodborne illness is having on different populations, particularly young children.