BAC Facts

Foodborne Illness: Definition

• Foodborne illness, often called "food poisoning", is illness caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, parasites or viruses, also known as microbes or pathogens.

The Cost to Canadians

• Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada estimate that there are 11 -13 million cases of foodborne illness every year in Canada.
• Health Canada estimates that foodborne illness costs Canadian health services, industry and society, as a whole, between 12 - 15 billion dollars annually.
• People who are most susceptible to serious consequences from foodborne illness are infants and young children, expecting mothers, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

Bacteria in the Environment

• Although bacteria are an integral part of our environment and play many beneficial roles, some forms of bacteria are harmful.
• Bacteria are present on all raw agricultural products. Although aggressive controls during food processing destroy many harmful pathogens, some bacteria may survive or foods may become contaminated during preparation, cooking and storage.
• Bacteria may be transferred from food to people, from people to food or from one food to another.
• Harmful foodborne bacteria are more of a risk today than 20 years ago because of: changing population demographics; changing patterns of food production and consumption; and new, re-emerging or drug-resistant disease agents.