In what ways do globalisation and travel affect food-borne diseases?

Globalisation and travel increase the spread and diversity of food-borne diseases due to increased food trade and human mobility.

Globalisation has led to a significant increase in the international trade of food products. This means that food is now being produced, processed, and consumed in different parts of the world, often crossing multiple borders before it reaches the consumer. As a result, food-borne diseases can easily spread from one country to another. For instance, a food product contaminated with a pathogen in one country can cause an outbreak of a food-borne disease in another country where the food is consumed. This has been seen in numerous instances, such as the 2011 E.coli outbreak in Germany which was traced back to contaminated cucumbers from Spain.

Travel also plays a significant role in the spread of food-borne diseases. With millions of people travelling internationally each year, there is a high risk of travellers contracting a food-borne disease in one country and then carrying it to another. This is particularly true for diseases like typhoid and hepatitis A, which are often contracted through contaminated food or water in countries with poor sanitation. Once a traveller returns home, they can potentially spread the disease to others, leading to an outbreak in a new location.

Moreover, globalisation and travel have also increased the diversity of food-borne diseases. As people travel and migrate, they bring their food habits and preferences with them, introducing new foods and food practices to different parts of the world. This can lead to the introduction of new pathogens and the emergence of new food-borne diseases. For example, the global sushi trend has led to an increase in cases of Anisakiasis, a disease caused by parasites found in raw fish.

In addition, globalisation can also impact the control and prevention of food-borne diseases. With food products being sourced from various countries, tracing the origin of a food-borne disease outbreak can be challenging. This can delay the response to an outbreak, allowing the disease to spread further. Therefore, globalisation and travel not only affect the spread and diversity of food-borne diseases but also their control and prevention.