Britons are increasingly facing 'Russian roulette' when it comes to food, with hospital admissions for three common illnesses linked to food poisoning reaching their highest levels in decades.
In the case of salmonella, the number of hospital admissions has already reached 1,468 in England between April 2022 and March 2023, according to NHS data – a rate of three patients per 100,000 people, a historic record.
“E. coli and Campylobacter have also reached record levels in the past two years, with hospitalizations for the latter reaching more than 4,340, a rate of nine per 100,000 people in 2023, compared to three per 100,000 in 2000.”
Many experts say the reasons for this “explosion” are due to factors such as weak regulatory focus, weakening standards in import controls after Brexit, and reductions in local authorities. The UK Food Standards Authority attributes this to the better discovery. But the British newspaper “The Guardian” highlighted that whatever the reasons, the result is “an unprecedented increase in foodborne diseases.”
“Why should I play Russian roulette with food?” asked Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University, stressing that the matter was not surprising and that there would be more cases “until the British public wakes up and says this is unacceptable.” “.
According to experts, the increase in cases is due to “weak state attention and regulatory focus on hygiene and food safety,” adding that the situation “is exacerbated by Brexit, cuts to local authorities, and the fragmentation of the food security management system.”
According to Louise Hosking, executive director of environmental health at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), amid an “unprecedented rise in foodborne illnesses”, “the battle against such epidemics begins with strengthening the capacity of local government environmental health teams”.
“However, while increased funding is vital, it is not the solution alone. “We must also address the insufficient number of people entering the profession, which threatens our future pipeline and our ability to effectively protect public health,” he said. .
The UK Health Security Agency attributed the increase in hospitalizations to advances in the use of molecular diagnostics. Amy Douglas, chief epidemiologist, said: “These intestinal bacteria can be transmitted from person to person, as well as through food, so anyone infected should wash their hands well after using the bathroom, as well as avoid handling or preparing food.” “Whenever possible.”
