Helminthic food-borne infections.

The importance of food-borne helminthic infections is not well recognized and has not received the same attention as food-borne bacterial infections. Poverty, overpopulation, and cultural practices contribute to conditions that maintain food-borne helminthic infections. The development of better means of transportation and the ease of reaching otherwise inaccessible markets have increased significantly our risk of coming in contact with food containing infectious organisms. The education of industry, public health workers, governmental organizations, and consumers is the most effective means to prevent food-borne helminthic infections and safeguard the world's food supply. Prevention and intervention measures focused at the production level to disrupt the parasite's life cycle are critical for maintaining a safe food supply.