Risk Factors and Surveillance Systems for Foodborne Illness Outbreaks in Canada (University of Guelph Master of Public Health Program)

Risk factors for foodborne illness in Canada span along the “farm-to-fork continuum.” Human risk factors include personal hygiene, cross-contamination, temperature control and unsafe food sources. Surveillance and food safety systems at the regional (or local), provincial/territorial, and federal levels are designed to function
collaboratively. The efficiency of surveillance systems to produce complete datasets with pathogen-specific risk factor information is challenged by inconsistent disease reporting and insufficient information sharing. Recommendations include standardizing reportable disease lists and procedures for reporting (case and outbreak-related) and encouraging participation of all jurisdictions in information sharing using electronic systems.